Kolkata: Calcutta High Court held on Thursday that the need of the hour was to rehabilitate the victims of violence in Murshidabad over protests against amendments to the waqf act, and ruled out the plea for an NIA probe for lack of “adequate material”.
“Presently we are seized with the problem of restoration and rehabilitation of the displaced persons… It includes children and aged persons. Even the displaced persons who have received temporary shelter may not be receiving the basic amenities,” the HC observed.
The division bench of justices Soumen Sen and Raja Basu Chowdhury ruled out the prayer for an NIA investigation at this stage on the ground that “no adequate materials” had been placed before the court. The bench, however, left it to Centre to order an NIA investigation suo motu in case it held that scheduled offences had been committed.
The bench said it expected stakeholders to strive to restore peace in the affected areas.
The division bench directed the state to come up with a rehabilitation-cum-compensation scheme for the victims of violence. “The state has to formulate a scheme for their rehabilitation, and restoration of the people. Those who died, their families have to be compensated,” Justice Sen observed.
The bench directed the setting up of a committee comprising members from National Human Rights Commission, West Bengal Human Rights Commission and State Legal Services Authority that would identify the people affected and provide them food and shelter. The HC told the committee to examine the extent of damage to property and facilitate lodging of complaints by victims in case FIRs had not been registered.
The division bench directed the state to ensure that the violence-hit could live peacefully after returning home, with safety and security to their lives and assets.
While passing the interim order, the HC sought reports from the SIT during the next hearing on May 15.
“Presently we are seized with the problem of restoration and rehabilitation of the displaced persons… It includes children and aged persons. Even the displaced persons who have received temporary shelter may not be receiving the basic amenities,” the HC observed.
The division bench of justices Soumen Sen and Raja Basu Chowdhury ruled out the prayer for an NIA investigation at this stage on the ground that “no adequate materials” had been placed before the court. The bench, however, left it to Centre to order an NIA investigation suo motu in case it held that scheduled offences had been committed.
The bench said it expected stakeholders to strive to restore peace in the affected areas.
The division bench directed the state to come up with a rehabilitation-cum-compensation scheme for the victims of violence. “The state has to formulate a scheme for their rehabilitation, and restoration of the people. Those who died, their families have to be compensated,” Justice Sen observed.
The bench directed the setting up of a committee comprising members from National Human Rights Commission, West Bengal Human Rights Commission and State Legal Services Authority that would identify the people affected and provide them food and shelter. The HC told the committee to examine the extent of damage to property and facilitate lodging of complaints by victims in case FIRs had not been registered.
The division bench directed the state to ensure that the violence-hit could live peacefully after returning home, with safety and security to their lives and assets.
While passing the interim order, the HC sought reports from the SIT during the next hearing on May 15.
