The Hindu : National : West Bengal challenges HC order on Nandigram police firing

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 05, 2007
ePaper

National

National

West Bengal challenges HC order on Nandigram police firing

Legal Correspondent

New Delhi: The West Bengal government on Tuesday moved the Supreme Court challenging the Calcutta High Court order declaring the Nandigram police firing and the awarding of compensation to the victims unconstitutional.

In a special leave petition against the impugned order, the State government said, “the High Court was wholly unjustified in rendering strong and definite findings of unconstitutionality and illegality in the firing which the police force was forced to undertake, after holding that a detailed investigation had to be undertaken before any such finding could be rendered.”

It said the findings of unconstitutionality of the police firing had pre-judged and foreclosed the entire issue and would bind the CBI, thereby rendering the enquiry infructuous. The High Court, instead of appointing a committee to ascertain the nature, extent and cause of the injuries sustained by each person, as also the exact cause of each death, had summarily decided to award compensation and had prescribed the quantum thereof.

The SLP said the State was not seeking a stay on the direction relating to the CBI enquiry, but only on other directions and findings of the High court. It sought a direction to set up a committee for deciding on the compensation to be paid to the victims and/or their families.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National