Latest news with #SoumenSen
Hans India
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
WBSSC jobs matter: PIL in Calcutta HC challenges Bengal govt's order on stipend for non-teaching staff
Kolkata: A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in Calcutta High Court, challenging the notification issued by the West Bengal government earlier this month on the launch of a new scheme under which the non-teaching staff in state-run schools in the state under Group-C and Group-D categories, losing jobs following a recent order of the Supreme Court, can be provided with a monthly stipend from the state exchequer. In the PIL, the petitioner has challenged the notification, claiming that spending public exchequer for staff losing jobs following a Supreme Court order was illegal. As per the notification issued earlier this month, under the proposed scheme under the state labour department christened 'West Bengal Livelihood and Special Security Interim Scheme', the job-losing Group-C staff would be entitled to a monthly stipend of Rs 25,000, while those in the Group D category would be entitled to Rs 20,000 monthly. Those covered under the scheme will be entitled to receive the monthly stipends with effect from April 1 this year and this payment will continue until any solution as regards the legal hassles regarding their loss of jobs is achieved. The PIL has been admitted by the Calcutta High Court's division bench of Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Smita Das and the matter is expected to come up for hearing soon. The matter will come up for hearing after the forthcoming summer vacation recess of the Calcutta High Court. While announcing the launch of the scheme earlier this month, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had explained that the scheme was planned under the state labour department because of the tendencies of some people and vested interests to file public interest litigations at the Calcutta High Court against any decision of the state government. However, with the PIL being filed at the Calcutta High Court, the state government's desire to avoid a legal battle over the scheme was not fulfilled. Earlier this month, a similar case challenging the scheme was filed at the single-judge bench of Justice Amrita Sinha, which was also admitted. On April 3, the Supreme Court upheld a previous order of the Calcutta High Court that annulled 25,753 school appointments made through the WBSSC. The apex court observed that the panel had to be scrapped entirely due to the authorities' failure to distinguish between "tainted" and "untainted" candidates. The state government and the WBSSC have since filed review petitions in the Supreme Court seeking reconsideration of the order.
Scroll.in
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Murshidabad violence: West Bengal police were inactive, says HC-appointed panel
The police were ' completely inactive and absent ' during the communal violence that broke out in West Bengal's Murshidabad in April, a three-member fact-finding committee appointed by the Calcutta High Court to investigate the unrest has found, The Indian Express reported on Tuesday. The committee's report, based on the testimony of those affected by the violence, stated that the police failed to respond to distress calls from residents. It also mentioned that Trinamool Congress leader Mehboob Alam was present at the site of the violence, The Hindu reported. Violence broke out in Murshidabad on April 11 and 12 during protests against amendments to the Waqf Act passed by Parliament on April 4. Three persons were killed in the violence. A waqf is an endowment under Islamic law dedicated to a religious, educational or charitable cause. Each state has a waqf board led by a legal entity vested with the power to acquire, hold and transfer property. The Waqf Amendment Act curbs the authority of waqf boards and allows greater government control over them. Critics allege that the amended law violates the right to equality and the freedom to manage religious affairs. The committee – set up by the division bench of Justices Soumen Sen and Raja Basu Chowdhury – comprises Joginder Singh, the registrar of the National Human Rights Commission, Satya Arnab Ghosal, member secretary of the West Bengal Legal Services Authority, and Saugata Chakraborty, registrar of the West Bengal Judicial Service. Their report, dated April 27, was submitted to the bench earlier this week. One of the persons affected by the violence told the fact-finding committee that masked men from Samserganj, Hizaltala, Shiulitala and Digri had taken part in the violence, The Hindu reported. The report said that Alam came with the mob on April 11, according to the newspaper. It added that the next day, the Trinamool leader 'saw the vandalism and left'. The committee quoted an affected person as saying that calls were made to the West Bengal Police at 4 pm on both Friday and Saturday, but there was no response. The report mentioned that a mob destroyed a water bottle shop and took away around Rs 12,000 to Rs 13,000 from its cash box, The Indian Express reported. A shopping mall in Ward 12 was looted and shut down. In Ghoshpara, 29 shops were damaged during the violence. Around 113 houses were severely damaged in the village of Betbona, The Hindu added. So far, there has been no official response from the Trinamool Congress or the West Bengal Police on the report. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had earlier called the violence 'a well-planned conspiracy'. Meanwhile, Trinamool Spokesperson Joy Prakash Majumdar told The Indian Express
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
PIL in Calcutta HC challenges govt funding, operations of Digha Jagannath shrine
Calcutta high court BHUBANESWAR: Amid growing tensions between Odisha and West Bengal over the use of ' Jagannath Dham ' name for the newly consecrated Digha temple, a PIL has been filed in the Calcutta high court challenging the project's funding and operation mechanisms. Advocate Koustav Bagchi's petition, admitted by the division bench of Justices Soumen Sen and Smita Das De, challenges the constitutional validity of govt funding for a religious structure under India's secular framework. The PIL seeks an independent inquiry into why the trust is being allowed to operate from Hidco's office. The petitioner requested the court to direct Hidco and the temple trust to file a report disclosing the true nature and character of Jagannath Dham Sanskriti Kendra/Jagannath Dham Digha and explain the legal basis for the trust's operations from Hidco premises. The petitioner has sought clarity on how the temple trust is accepting donations under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act while operating from the office of Hidco, a public sector undertaking. Questions have been raised about the use of govt funds for constructing what was initially tendered as a 'Sanskrit Kendra', but is now functioning as a temple complex. The PIL has challenged the recruitment of 100 civic volunteers for traffic and crowd management at the Digha temple and sought to quash the recruitment notice issued by the SP of East Midnapore. It questions whether the Bengal govt can legally deploy civic volunteers at what appears to be a private trust property without proper requisition or consent. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Want Lower Bills Without Changing a Thing? elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Learn More Undo While Odisha law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan has said the govt would take legal action, if required, to ensure 'Dham' is dropped from the Digha shrine name, legal experts suggested the state has strong grounds for legal recourse because of the cultural and religious significance of Lord Jagannath, with the centuries-old Puri temple being long revered as the original 'Jagannath Dham'. Lawyers said Odisha can approach the Supreme Court under Article 131 of the Constitution.
Indian Express
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Remunerate & restore all parties whose lives, properties affected in Murshidabad violence: Calcutta HC to govt
THE CALCUTTA High Court on Thursday directed the TMC government in the state to 'remunerate and restore' all parties whose lives and properties were affected during the clashes in Murshidabad last month during protests over the Waqf law. The court was hearing a public interest litigation in connection with the violence that broke out between April 8 and 12 in the Jangipur subdivision of Murshidabad, leading to the deaths of three persons, including a father-son duo. A division bench of Justices Soumen Sen and Raja Basu Chowdhury said, 'Compensating the victims by giving each of them Rs 1.20 lakh under the scheme 'Banglar Bari' may not do justice to all as the damaged and destroyed houses, differing in size and constructional features, do not admit of uniform financial salve.' The bench, in its order, also urged the state to consider appeals by local residents for a permanent Border Security Force (BSF) camp in the area and asked the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to 'continue investigating the issue to bring the perpetrators to justice.' The SIT should follow recommendations of a report filed by a three-member committee in the matter, the court said. 'It appears from the report that, presently, the victims are not acutely dissatisfied with the relief measures but they are anxious about their meaningful existence in view of their sufferings. We are sure that the state shall take note of such anxiety expressed by the victims and take appropriate measures in this regard. Their demand for a permanent BSF camp in the affected areas shall also be considered.' The committee has also said in the report that valuation experts be appointed as a remedy to the state's failure to protect a section of its citizens. 'In the humble opinion of the Committee, appointing qualified valuation experts is the only possible remedy to the state's failure to protect a section of its citizens. Those in the affected areas need individualised and customised rehabilitation packages…' The court has also directed the committee to appoint a valuer to assess the nature and extent of the damage. 'Considering the nature and extent of the damage caused, we direct the committee to appoint a valuer at the earliest from the panel of the High Court at Calcutta who shall assess the nature and extent of damage and file a report on the adjourned date. All costs, charges and expenses and remuneration shall be borne by the administration. The District Magistrate shall render all assistance to the valuer to carry out the direction.' The court said the committee report revealed that the violence was premeditated. 'It appears to be an organised SIT shall consider the said recommendation of the committee and take appropriate steps in this regard. The SIT shall file a report on or before the adjourned date.' The matter will now be listed for hearing on July 31.
The Hindu
16-05-2025
- The Hindu
Murshidabad violence victims anxious about safety, State must ensure protection: Calcutta HC
The Calcutta High Court observed that victims of Murshidabad violence are anxious about their safety in the violence-affected areas, and said that the State must ensure their rehabilitation, safety and protection. 'They should be restored to their original place after restoring confidence in the system. In the interregnum, the State must ensure proper shelter and accommodation to the victim. Upon restoration and rehabilitation, the State must ensure their safety and security. It should be the duty of the administration to ensure peace, harmony and protection of the property and lives of the victims,' a Division Bench of Justices Soumen Sen and Raja Basu Chowdhury stated on Thursday (May 15). Violence had erupted in Murshidabad's Samsherganj police station area on April 11 and April 12 following a protest against the passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. In the extended areas of Dhulian municipality and Tinpakuria gram panchayat, several houses and shops were torched and vandalised on these two days. On April 12, a father and son were killed in Samsherganj's Jafrabad during the violence, and another person died in police firing in Suti police station area. A three-member committee was formed in April on the directions of the Calcutta High Court to submit a report for the restoration of normalcy and rehabilitation of the victims. It has one member each from the National Human Rights Commission, West Bengal State Human Rights Commission and the State Legal Services Authority. 'Premeditated vandalism and massacre' The court in its May 15 order stated, 'It is revealed from the report of the committee that the vandalism and massacre are premeditated and appears to be an organized crime.' Also Read | All 13 accused in Murshidabad father-son murder are locals, some known to the family The report and video footage submitted by the committee also noted extensive damage to property and livelihood at Betbona village, Palpara and Ghoshpara in Samsherganj area. It was also observed from the committee's report that several homes were vandalised, people's source of livelihood was taken away, and movables of every possible kind 'pilfered and looted with impunity'. 'The victims appear to be in a sorry state of affairs... It appears from the report that presently the victims are not acutely dissatisfied with the relief measures but they are anxious about their meaningful existence in view of their sufferings,' the Calcutta High Court observed. The court pointed out that the State shall take note of the anxiety expressed by the victims and take appropriate measures in this regard. 'Shall consider permanent BSF camp' Meanwhile, the Calcutta High Court highlighted the committee's observations on the role of the police and said it 'shall consider' the victims' demand for a permanent camp of the Border Security Forces (BSF). 'The report submitted by the committee has posed a serious question as to the efficacy of the investigation considering the huge number of cases resulted from the violence… the committee was of the view that there may be a reasonable negative view on the police's performance having regard to the facts came to the notice of the team... Shock and trauma were writ large on the faces of the sufferers and the common grievance was lack of timely police assistance,' the court noted. As of May 16, the West Bengal Police have made 353 arrests in connection with the mob violence, and a total of 13 arrests in connection with the murder of father-son duo Hargobind Das and Chandan Das outside their home in Samsherganj's Jafrabad on April 12. It is also worth noting that the bereaved Das family, which rejected the State's compensation, had petitioned the Calcutta High Court for an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The petition was earlier released by the Single Bench of Justice Tirthankar Ghosh since the aforementioned Division Bench was already hearing matters pertaining to the Murshidabad matter. However, on May 15, the Division Bench of Justices Soumen Sen and Raja Basu Chowdhury also released the matter for it to be placed before the Chief Justice. State's compensation The State, in its affidavit to the court, stated that as many as 1,093 social media accounts have been blocked since April 11. According to counsel Kalyan Bandopadhyay, who appeared on behalf of the State, the government also formulated a rehabilitation project and sanctioned a sum of ₹3,69,60,000 to rehabilitate almost 283 families identified till now, for reconstruction of their houses under 'Banglar Bari Scheme'. Mr. Bandopadhyay also drew the court's attention to the fact that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, during her recent visit to the area, handed over cheques worth ₹1.2 lakh each to 283 households, along with 40 sewing machines and 40 riot-affected victims. After the Chief Minister's visit, a large police camp was also set up in the riot-hit area of Samsherganj.
