Jharna Chatterjee v. State Of West Bengal And ORS.

Court No. 14 Item No.30 23.11.2023 (Suvendu) WPA 22634 of 2023 Jharna Chatterjee Vs.

The State of West Bengal & Ors.

Mr. Ajit Kumar Mishra Mr. Abhishek Dey Mr. Supravat Banerjee ..........for the petitioner Mr. Ashim Kr. Ganguly Ms. Jyotsna Roy Mukherjee .......for the State Affidavit of service filed on behalf of the petitioner is taken on record.

Report filed on behalf of the State is also taken on record.

Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submits as follows. The petitioner contested the last Gram Panchayat Elections on the ticket of an opposition political party. Even before the elections, she had been harassed, abused and assaulted by the miscreants belonging to the ruling political dispensation. After the elections were over, the intensity of the attacks increased. She was physically assaulted and her house was attacked. Her minor child was also not spared. Although this was brought

to the notice of the local Police Station, no steps were taken. Instead a notice was served upon the petitioner in a proceeding initiated under Section 107 of the Code.

Learned counsel appearing for the State relies on the report and submits as follows. The allegations made in the writ petition are denied. The petitioner hardly lodged any complaint before the Police Station regarding the said alleged incidents. In spite of this, the police took necessary steps. Two proceedings have been initiated under Section 107 of the Code on the complaint of the petitioner and an FIR under Sections 323 and 506 of the Penal Code was also started.

I have heard the learned counsels appearing on behalf of the parties and have perused the writ petition and the report filed by the State.

It is an unfortunate state of affairs that for contesting an election for an opposition political party, a person would be subjected to such atrocities. It is the duty of the State to protect all of its citizens and especially victims of such atrocities.

Although the police have taken some steps, the miscreants have not been deterred.

In view of the above, let the police authorities install a CCTV Camera in front of the house of the petitioner in consultation with the local civic

authorities. The police authorities shall keep a sharp vigil at the locale by engaging frequent police patrols and ensure that no breach of peace takes place. In the event any untoward incident is occurred, the petitioner shall be at liberty to call up the Officer-in-Charge of Bishnupur Police Station and intimate about the same. The Officer-in-Charge of Bishnupur Police Station shall then act in accordance with law.

With these observations, the writ petition is disposed of.

Urgent photostat certified copy of this order, if applied for be given to the parties on usual undertakings.

(Jay Sengupta, J.)