The
Calcutta high court on Friday directed the authorities to take steps
for sending the people, who were allegedly forced to flee due to
post-poll violence in West Bengal, back to their homes immediately on
receiving complaints.
A five-judge bench hearing PILs with regard
to displacement of people in the state owing to post-poll violence
directed that the affected people can lodge complaints to the state
government on designated email IDs provided by the state home secretary.
"On receipt of the aforesaid complaints filed by the persons
concerned in different districts in the state of West Bengal, the
competent authority shall take appropriate steps for their
rehabilitation immediately thereafter and report to this court on the
next date of hearing," the bench directed.
The matter would be
heard again on June 11.
The five-judge bench, comprising Acting
Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal Court and justices I P Mukerji, Harish
Tandon, Soumen Sen and Subrata Talukdar said that if the authority fails
to comply with the order, the court will have to take steps for
ensuring that they are able to return home.
The court directed
that the affected persons can additionally send copies of the complaints
on the designated e-mail ID of the West Bengal State Legal Services
Authority.
One of the petitions being heard by the bench was
regarding 200 such people of Entally assembly constituency in Kolkata.
The bench had on May 31 ordered the constitution of a three-member
panel comprising an officer each from the NHRC, WBHRC and West Bengal
State Legal Services Authority to monitor the return of people, who had
fled and were allegedly not allowed to go back to their houses in
Entally after Assembly polls were concluded.
The five-judge bench
had said that it is the duty of the state to ensure that the law and
order situation is maintained.
Clashes were reported from several
places in West Bengal following the declaration of assembly election
results on May 2.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had said in early last
month that at least 16 people have lost their lives in post- poll
violence in the state. -- PTI