Nandigram: Apex Court retains the order of Calcutta High Court

Dec 13: The Apex Court today repudiated the West Bengal government demand to wipe out the Calcutta High Court’s remark over the police action in Nandigram In March this year, which had said the action was totally unconstitutional.

The Calcutta High Court also had directed the West Bengal government to pay compensation to the victims of Nandigram police firing on March 14 this year. These remarks by the Supreme Court have brought a huge setback for the Bengal government and its prestige thereby slackened considerably.

The Apex Court in its harsh remarks said, ‘Why are you making an issue of this? Your idea should be at this stage to reinstate normalcy in Nandigram. Instead of doing something positive in citizens’ favour, you are diverting your attention to baseless sides.’

A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice R V Raveendran and J M Panchal hearing the government’s petition, directed the CBI not to initiate any criminal proceeding against any police officers in the court till next order, but simultaneously rejected the plea to appoint a committee for awarding compensation for victims.

The High Court had directed the West Bengal government to give Rs 50,000 each to the kin of those killed in police firing as compensation.

At least 14 people were killed in police firing when the residents of Nandigram tried to resist the entry of police in the village.

The bench also said that inquiry by the investigating agency will be continued as per the High Court order.

The Solicitor General of India G E Vahanvati said that CBI has already completed its investigation and will submit report to High Court on December 17.

The Supreme Court while fixing January 28, 2008 as the next date of hearing also issued notices to NGO’s, Kedar Nath Yadav, one of its petitioners, Central Government and CBI and other on the petition filed by the West Bengal Government against High Court order.

West Bengal had challenged in the Supreme Court against November 16 order of Calcutta High Court which had remarked that the police firing on innocent people in Nandigram on March 14 was brutal and unconstitutional.

In hearing another case, on a petition filed by Bibhash Karmakar, a resident of south 24-parganas, West Bengal regarding the ban on on-line lottery that was affecting the poor and students allegedly, the Supreme Court sought a response from the Centre and three states- West Bengal, Sikkim and Tripura.

A bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan issued notice to the Finance Ministry and the Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry on the aforesaid plea.