Teesha –
The Calcutta High Court’s 5 Judges Bench ordered that any person in West Bengal, who is being prevented from returning to his/her home on account of post-poll violence is at the liberty to lodge a complaint with the State Legal Service Authority.
The Bench comprised of Acting Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal, Justices IP Mukerji, Harish Tandon, Soumen Sen and Subrata Talukdar.
The Court further directed, that a composite complaint may be filed by lawyers appearing in the matter, on behalf of the people who do not have access to technology or are unable to read/write.
The order came in while dealing with a clutch of petitions, alleging hundreds of persons got displaced due to the violence and that they are now being restrained to return back due to fear.
ACJ Bindal remarked, that rehabilitating the displaced people should be the priority of the court. He further enquired Advocate General Kishore Dutta, appearing for the State regarding the people who allegedly flee to Assam and approached Gauhati High Court as per new reports.
Previously, the Court constituted a committee inclusive of the members from NHRC, SHRC and SLSA to regulate the rehabilitation, however Advocate Priyanka Tiberwal informed the court in the hearing that the issue is still rampant in the state.
Furthermore, Senior Advocate Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya alleged that rehabilitated people are being threaten by police officials because they approached the Court.
The matter is now listed for June 7, 2021.