HC may hear review plea on post-poll violence order today

KOLKATA : A five-judge bench of Calcutta high court on Monday is likely to hear a petition by the West Bengal government, urging it to review its directions to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to examine all cases of alleged human rights violation during violence that erupted after the declaration of the assembly election results in May, lawyers familiar with the developments said.

The review petition was filed by the state government on Saturday, a day after the bench, headed by acting chief justice Rajesh Bindal, directed the NHRC to form a committee, examine the complaints it has received from the victims of the violence and visit the affected areas, if required. It also sought a report in this regard but did not set any deadline.

Taking note of the several public interest litigations filed by alleged victims of post-poll violence, the bench said the committee must restore the confidence of the people and check if their safety and livelihood has not been affected by the alleged violence. The bench also directed the state government to provide logistic support to the committee during visits to the affected areas and said action would be initiated if the NHRC team faced any resistance.

The court also directed the member secretary of the West Bengal State Legal Services Authority (WBSLSA) to be a part of the NHRC’S committee along with a member of the state human rights commission. A report by the member secretary of WBSLSA mentioned that as many as 3,243 complaints ranging from looting and arson to demand for ransom were received from people till June 10. On May 31, the bench had ordered the constitution of a three-member committee to monitor the return of people who were allegedly forced to leave their homes.