WB Post Poll Violence: Calcutta HC Issues Notice To NHRC, SLSA To Consider Constitution Of 2 Member Committee To Address Complaints Of Alleged Victims

The Calcutta High Court on Monday issued notice to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the State Legal Services Authority (SLSA) in connection with a prayer for forming a committee to ensure that people displaced in post-poll violence in West Bengal get to return homes and pursue work.

The Court vide order dated August 19, 2021 had handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) the investigation of cases related to murder, rape and crime against women whereas a Special Investigation Team (SIT) had been constituted to investigate other criminal cases related to post-poll violence.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Justice Rajrashi Bharadwaj was adjudicating upon a prayer put forward by petitioner Priyanka Tibrewal to constitute a committee of two Members, one from the NHRC and the State Human Rights Commission to address the complaints of 303 alleged victims of post-poll violence. 

The petitioner had earlier submitted a detailed affidavit before the Bench wherein the names and contact details of 303 alleged victims of post-poll violence had been enumerated. On the last date of hearing, the Court had allowed the petitioner to implead both the NHRC and the State Human Rights Commission in the instant proceedings for the concerned purpose. 

On Monday, the petitioner informed the Court that although she had served notice to the NHRC and the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC), they had stated that unless a formal notice is issued by the Court they did not intend to appear in the instant proceedings. 

The Court was further informed that currently the SHRC does not have either a Chairman or a Secretary. 

Taking cognisance of the grievance raised, the Court issued notice to the Chairman of the NHRC and the competent authority of the State Legal Services Authority. Accordingly, the matter was adjourned for further hearing on April 19. 

Case Title: Anindya Sundar Das v. Union of India and other connected matters