Writ petition filed by elected opposition party members of a Gram Panchayat seeking police protection for attending a meeting to elect Upa Samity members, alleging interference by ruling party elements.
Petitioners to report to I.C., Chanchal PS at 10 am on 05.10.2023; police to escort, video record travel and maintain vigil.
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11 29.09.2023
NB Ct. 14
WPA 23676 of 2023
Forida Yeasmin & Ors. Vs.
The State of West Bengal & Ors.
Mr. Imtiaz Akhtar. …for the petitioners.
Mr. Wasim Ahmed, Sk. Md. Masud. …for the State.
Affidavit of service filed on behalf of the petitioners is
taken on record.
Report filed on behalf of the State is also taken on record.
Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioners submits as follows. The petitioners are the elected members of Dhangara Bishnanpur Gram Panchayat under Chanchal-II Development Block within the district of Malda in the West Bengal Panchayat Election-2023. They belong to the opposition political party. The miscreants belonging to the ruling political dispensation are trying their best so that the petitioners cannot attend their meeting for election of members of Upa Samity of Gram Panchayat. Now, the meeting is scheduled to take place at the Gram Panchayat at Dhangara Bishnanpur Gram Panchayat Office on 05.10.2023 at 12 noon. The petitioners seek police protection for participating in the meeting.
Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the State submits as follows. The allegations made in the writ petition are denied. However, if the petitioners are in some kind of fear
2
in attending the meeting concerned, necessary police protection can be provided.
It appears that the petitioners are the elected members of Dhangara Bishnanpur Gram Panchayat. There is a meeting scheduled to take place for election of members of Upa Samity of the said Gram Panchayat on 05.10.2023 at 12 noon at the Gram Panchayat Office.
Let the petitioners report to the Inspector-in-Charge of Chanchal Police Station on 05.10.2023 at 10am so that necessary police arrangement could be made to escort them to the Gram Panchayat Officer for attending the meeting. A videography shall be done of their travel from the Police Station to the venue.
Even otherwise, the police keep a sharp vigil at the locale and ensure that no breach of peace takes place.
With these observations, the writ petition is disposed of.
Urgent photostat certified copy of this order may be supplied to the parties expeditiously, if applied for.
(Jay Sengupta, J.)
1 issue framed by the court
Whether election of Upa Samity members at Gram Panchayat can be allowed amidst alleged threats to opposition party members.
Forida Yeasmin & Ors.
The State of West Bengal & Ors.
Jay Sengupta
As recorded by the court registry
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
