The Calcutta high court on Wednesday asked Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) to explain by September 5 why it should not be ordered to compensate the people in Darjeeling for financial losses caused by the 'public curfew' called by the outfit.
The court said the janata (public) curfew, called by the GJM on August 13 and 14 to step up its demand for a separate state, was illegal and violated human rights of Darjeeling people.
Life in the hills of North Bengal has been severely disrupted after Morcha leaders called the curfew the people have been asked to observe by not stepping out of their homes.
The curfew follows a bandh called for an indefinite p
eriod from August 3. On August 10, chief minister Mamata Banerjee warned the GJM of an administrative crackdown if the bandh was not withdrawn.
Though Morcha leaders seemed to have softened their stand by suspending the bandh from August 15 to 18, they are supposed to meet on August 16 to decide on the course of agitation from August 19.
Following the high court directive, Morcha leaders will find it difficult to issue bandh and curfew calls. The ruling also makes it possible for the government to penalise disruptive politics besides boosting the Mamata government's efforts to restore normalcy in Darjeeling.
The GJM stepped up its agitation for a separate Gorkhaland after a Congress Working Committee endorsed the formation of Telangana state.
The court said the janata (public) curfew, called by the GJM on August 13 and 14 to step up its demand for a separate state, was illegal and violated human rights of Darjeeling people.
Life in the hills of North Bengal has been severely disrupted after Morcha leaders called the curfew the people have been asked to observe by not stepping out of their homes.
The curfew follows a bandh called for an indefinite p
eriod from August 3. On August 10, chief minister Mamata Banerjee warned the GJM of an administrative crackdown if the bandh was not withdrawn.
Though Morcha leaders seemed to have softened their stand by suspending the bandh from August 15 to 18, they are supposed to meet on August 16 to decide on the course of agitation from August 19.
Following the high court directive, Morcha leaders will find it difficult to issue bandh and curfew calls. The ruling also makes it possible for the government to penalise disruptive politics besides boosting the Mamata government's efforts to restore normalcy in Darjeeling.
The GJM stepped up its agitation for a separate Gorkhaland after a Congress Working Committee endorsed the formation of Telangana state.
HT
Why should GJM not be asked to pay for damages in Darjeeling: HC
Kolkata, Aug 14:
Expressing displeasure over continuance of the bandh in Darjeeling despite its order, the Calcutta High Court today observed that the fundamental rights of people there were being curbed and asked why the GJM should not be asked to compensate the damage to public and private property in the hills.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Arun Mishra and Justice Joymalyo Bagchi directed GJM, which is demanding a separate Gorkhaland state, directed it to file an affidavit by September 5 stating why compensation costs should not be imposed on it.
The Division Bench expressed displeasure over the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s violation of its order of August 7 which had held the indefinite bandh in Darjeeling as illegal.
The GJM counsel submitted that the people of hills were agitating spontaneously and were resorting to a ‘janata curfew’ and that the party had little say over it.
The court, however, refused to buy the GJM’s argument and observed that the people of the hills were not being treated like human beings.
It also observed that fundamental rights of people were being curbed and that normalcy at schools, colleges and medical institutions was also affected.
The Bench directed the West Bengal Government to assess damage to public and private property and submit a report to it.
Government pleader Ashok Banerjee submitted a report in a sealed cover detailing the present situation in Darjeeling. (PTI)
Expressing displeasure over continuance of the bandh in Darjeeling despite its order, the Calcutta High Court today observed that the fundamental rights of people there were being curbed and asked why the GJM should not be asked to compensate the damage to public and private property in the hills.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Arun Mishra and Justice Joymalyo Bagchi directed GJM, which is demanding a separate Gorkhaland state, directed it to file an affidavit by September 5 stating why compensation costs should not be imposed on it.
The Division Bench expressed displeasure over the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s violation of its order of August 7 which had held the indefinite bandh in Darjeeling as illegal.
The GJM counsel submitted that the people of hills were agitating spontaneously and were resorting to a ‘janata curfew’ and that the party had little say over it.
The court, however, refused to buy the GJM’s argument and observed that the people of the hills were not being treated like human beings.
It also observed that fundamental rights of people were being curbed and that normalcy at schools, colleges and medical institutions was also affected.
The Bench directed the West Bengal Government to assess damage to public and private property and submit a report to it.
Government pleader Ashok Banerjee submitted a report in a sealed cover detailing the present situation in Darjeeling. (PTI)
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