Keep Howrah court free from intrusion: HC to West Bengal

KOLKATA: The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday directed the state government to ensure that there is “no intrusion” in the Howrah court premises without permission of the judicial officer in-charge. The HC will hear the matter on May 8 due as Howrah polls are scheduled on Monday. The state bar council has decided to continue with the cease-work till May 10.
A bench of chief justice Thottathil B Radhakrishnan and justice Arijt Banerjee in their two-page order said: “Law and order will be maintained subject to all directions to be issued by the Election Commission in view of the ensuing elections.It shall be understood that there is no room for any apprehension that peaceful assembly of individuals, without being in conflict with law, will be interfered with. Police will abide by specific directions, if any, that may be issued from time to time by the EC.”
According to Bar council members, Uttam Majumdar and Prasun Dutta, the council has convened a meeting on May 10 to chalk out their future course of action. The cease work will continue till then, they said.
According to the affidavit filed by the state (home) secretary Atri Bhattacharya and state DGP Virendra in the high court, the cops didn’t commit any excesses. The home secretary in his affidavit told the HC: “In view of the violent agitation, the police authorities were constraint to use force. However, minimum force necessary was used.” The DGP in his affidavit also said: “The situation was brought under control by using minimum force, including tear gas.”
Both the affidavits mention that Howrah Police commissioner at 7pm that day went to the Howrah court for discussions with the members of the Howrah Bar Association and district judge. It also mentions that the bar association’s immediate demand that a detained advocate be released was also met when the advocate was released on a personal bond.
The most detailed affidavit submitted by the Howrah police commissioner Vishal Garg mentions repeated efforts by police to urge the agitators over public address systems to help restore law and order. The CP said in the affidavit that a Howrah Municipal Corporation employee was reportedly detained by agitating lawyers. A police constable who had gone to rescue the HMC staffer, too, was detained and assaulted. To rescue them, the CP said, the assembly was declared to be unlawful and asked to disperse. Failing this, the affidavit says, two tear gas shells were charged.