1 hr ago
Calcutta High Court Dismisses PIL Over Mamata’s Bangladesh Comments
The Calcutta High Court considered a case about comments made by Mamata Banerjee.
She spoke about a murderer from Bangladesh at a public meeting in Kolkata.
She said the person had entered West Bengal through Meghalaya and had been arrested by state police.
She did not name the person.
She said she was keeping the name secret for national interest and to avoid upsetting people in Bangladesh.
Avratanu Sarkar asked the court to take action against her.
The West Bengal government told the court that her comments did not amount to a cognisable offence.
The court then dismissed the petition.
The Calcutta High Court dismissed a public interest litigation against Mamata Banerjee over Bangladesh-related comments.
The comments were made at a public meeting in Kolkata on June 2 after West Bengal’s Assembly polls.
Banerjee referred to a murderer from Bangladesh allegedly entering through Meghalaya and being arrested by the state police’s Special Task Force.
A state government report submitted to the court said the comments contained no element of a cognisable offence.
The PIL was filed by Avratanu Sarkar, while the court had earlier questioned the petition’s admissibility.
- Who
- Mamata Banerjee made the comments; Avratanu Sarkar filed the PIL; the West Bengal government submitted a report; and a Calcutta High Court division bench heard the case.
- What
- The Calcutta High Court dismissed a PIL seeking action over Banerjee’s Bangladesh-related comments.
- Where
- The comments were made at a public meeting at Esplanade in central Kolkata, and the case was heard by the Calcutta High Court.
- When
- Banerjee made the comments on June 2; the court dismissed the PIL on Wednesday after a previous hearing on September 1.
- Why
- The court dismissed the PIL after the state report said the comments did not contain any element of a cognisable offence.
PIL petitioner’s position
State and court’s position
Whether action was warranted
PIL petitioner’s position
Avratanu Sarkar filed the PIL seeking action over Banerjee’s comments.
State and court’s position
The state government reported that the comments did not contain any element of a cognisable offence, and the High Court dismissed the PIL.
Admissibility of the petition
PIL petitioner’s position
The petitioner sought to have the court consider the remarks through a public interest litigation.
State and court’s position
The court had questioned whether the PIL was admissible and whether it should hear statements made by an individual.
Disclosure of the alleged suspect’s identity
PIL petitioner’s position
People at the meeting demanded that Banerjee reveal the name of the person she referred to.
State and court’s position
Banerjee declined to name the person, saying she did not want to do so for national interest and to avoid agitating people in Bangladesh.
Key facts
- Case
- Public interest litigation against Mamata Banerjee
- Petitioner
- Avratanu Sarkar
- Court
- Calcutta High Court
- Comments made
- June 2 at a public meeting at Esplanade, Kolkata
- State report
- The comments contained no element of a cognisable offence
- Earlier hearing
- September 1
- Bench
- A division bench headed by Chief Justice Ravindra Vithalrao Ghuge
Quotes
Mamata Banerjee
Former West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress leader
“The people of Bangladesh will become agitated. I don't want that. I love the country.”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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