Calcutta High Court To Hear Plea Against BJP’s 12-Hour Strike Over Police Action At Nabanna Protest

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been submitted to the Calcutta High Court, opposing a 12-hour strike called by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in response to police action against protestors marching to Nabanna, the West Bengal state secretariat. The march was organized to protest the handling of the investigation into the rape and murder of a resident doctor at RG Kar hospital.

The PIL urges the court to prevent the BJP from enforcing the bandh, referencing a prior ruling by the Bombay High Court, which prohibited a “Maharashtra Bandh” called by the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) over a similar incident of sexual violence. The petition claims that the BJP’s strike, if allowed, would severely disrupt public life, hindering transportation and potentially leading to the destruction of public property.

The protest at Nabanna, initially intended as a peaceful demonstration by various student groups, escalated when the police intervened with water cannons, tear gas, and ‘lathi-charge’ to disperse the crowd. In response to the police actions, BJP leaders in West Bengal, led by Dr. Sukanta Majumder, called for the 12-hour bandh to voice their dissent.

The background of the incident involves the brutal rape and murder of a second-year postgraduate medical student at RG Kar hospital, which has sparked widespread outrage across the country. The Calcutta High Court transferred the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), citing concerns over the effectiveness of the state police’s probe and allegations of a cover-up involving the arrest of a civic volunteer.

The victim’s parents, represented by Senior Advocate Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, had petitioned the court for an independent investigation, highlighting discrepancies in the initial handling of the case. The court also raised concerns about the college administration’s inaction and ordered the principal to be placed on indefinite leave.

The Supreme Court has also taken notice of the case, issuing directives to protect the victim’s identity and to bolster security measures at RG Kar hospital. Additionally, the Court has mandated the formation of a task force to address sexual violence against medical professionals.

The Calcutta High Court is now set to hear the PIL challenging the BJP’s call for a strike, as the case continues to unfold with significant public and legal attention.