Calcutta HC Rebukes Kolkata Police for Stopping Construction Near Nabanna
Click to start listening
Synopsis
The Calcutta High Court has criticized the Kolkata Police for halting private construction outside the designated security zone for the state Secretariat Nabanna. The police's actions were challenged in court, raising questions about their authority and the implications for civil liberties in West Bengal.
Key Takeaways
- Calcutta High Court reprimanded Kolkata Police for halting construction.
- The construction site is near Nabanna in Howrah.
- Justice Kausik Chanda questioned police authority.
- Request for a report from the City Police Commissioner.
- Concerns raised about civil liberties in West Bengal.
Kolkata, Feb 25 (NationPress) The Calcutta High Court expressed dissatisfaction with the Kolkata Police on Tuesday for unnecessarily stopping private construction work outside the security zone designated for the state Secretariat Nabanna at Mandirtala in the neighboring Howrah district.
Following the intervention of the city police that halted construction activities within a 100-metre radius security zone surrounding Nabanna, the affected individual sought legal recourse by approaching the high court to contest the police's actions.
The case was heard on Monday, where a bench led by Justice Kausik Chanda scrutinized the legitimacy of the city police's interference in the construction outside the prescribed security perimeter of the state Secretariat.
The court also requested an explanation from City Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma regarding the situation.
During the proceedings, Justice Chanda raised concerns about whether the citizens of West Bengal were living in a police state. He instructed the police authorities to provide the official notification that established the security zone surrounding the state Secretariat.
The bench acknowledged the importance of security concerning the state Secretariat but pointed out that the police appeared to lack that awareness. Additionally, he remarked that the City Police Commissioner should clarify the rationale behind the unwarranted police intervention in a private construction matter.
Recently, both the Kolkata Police and West Bengal Police have received criticism from various benches of the Calcutta High Court for their alleged overreach under the guise of security or law and order enforcement. Frequently, the court's disapproval stemmed from the denial of police permits for public demonstrations or meetings proposed by opposition parties within the state.
In many instances, the Calcutta High Court has reversed the police's refusal of permissions. The latest example involved the denial of a police permit for a scheduled public meeting by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat at Burdwan in the East Burdwan district earlier this month.
