Calcutta High Court Reevaluates PIL Against BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari
In a recent development, the Calcutta High Court has been delving into a public interest litigation (PIL) concerning BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari. The case, which has seen its fair share of twists and turns, is now under the spotlight once again.
On July 20, the Calcutta High Court, led by a Division Bench comprising Justices IP Mukerji and Biswaroop Chowdhury, had instructed the West Bengal Police to treat the PIL presented before the Court as a formal complaint. The directive was to assess if there was a valid case under Section 153A (which pertains to promoting enmity between different groups) of the Indian Penal Code against Adhikari. If found valid, the police were to register an FIR against the BJP stalwart.
The Bench had notably pointed out that previous orders, specifically those issued by Justice Rajasekhar Mantha which restrained the filing of FIRs against Adhikari, were being “misread.”
However, in a counter-move, Adhikari approached the Supreme Court challenging the decision of the division bench. On August 4, the apex court nullified the order from the division bench of the High Court. The Supreme Court then directed the Chief Justice of the High Court to revisit the matter. The primary focus was to determine whether the ‘protection’ initially granted by Justice Mantha to Adhikari should remain in place or be revoked.
Following the Supreme Court’s directive, the case was brought up for hearing once more.
This ongoing legal tussle underscores the intricate dynamics of the judiciary and its interplay with political figures. As the case unfolds, it will be crucial to monitor the High Court’s stance on the PIL and its implications for Adhikari.
