Calcutta High Court Authorizes NGO to Provide Relief in Murshidabad Affected by Communal Violence
Click to start listening
Synopsis
The Calcutta High Court has allowed the NGO 'Khola Hawa' to provide relief materials in Murshidabad, a region recently impacted by communal violence. Justice Amrita Sinha emphasized the right of non-governmental organizations to assist in such crises, despite previous denials from the district administration.
Key Takeaways
- Calcutta High Court grants permission for NGO relief work.
- Khola Hawa can distribute essential supplies in Murshidabad.
- District magistrate previously denied access.
- Relief efforts focus on food, tarpaulin, and medicines.
- Only three members allowed per visit.
Kolkata, April 17 (NationPress) A single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court, on Thursday, granted permission to a non-governmental organization (NGO) to enter the areas affected by communal violence in Murshidabad and distribute relief supplies to those in need.
While allowing the NGO named 'Khola Hawa (Open Air)' — which had previously been denied authorization by the district administration — Justice Amrita Sinha remarked that there was no law prohibiting organizations other than governmental entities from distributing relief materials in any location.
She further noted that the ongoing law and order situation could not serve as a justification for withholding permission, especially since the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) were already deployed in Murshidabad.
The NGO sought the court's intervention after the district magistrate refused to allow its members access to the affected areas for relief distribution. The Murshidabad district in West Bengal had faced unrest the previous week due to violent protests concerning the Waqf (Amendment) Act.
In its petition, the NGO claimed that while the district administration was permitting various political parties to deliver relief supplies, it was intentionally denying similar permissions to their organization.
The case was heard on Thursday afternoon, where the NGO's counsel argued that the district magistrate had no valid reason to decline permission, as the state’s Director General of Police had asserted that the situation in Murshidabad was mostly stable. The counsel emphasized, “The NGO members intend to deliver essential items such as tarpaulin, food, and medications to those impacted.”
Despite opposition from the state government, Justice Sinha ultimately sided with the NGO's arguments and allowed its members to visit the troubled areas for relief distribution.
However, she stipulated that only three members of the relief team could visit any affected area at a time, and they must notify the district magistrate at least 24 hours in advance of their visit. Additionally, team members must refrain from making any inflammatory remarks during the distribution process to avoid reigniting tensions in the region.
