Abedali Laskar @ Abed Ali Laskar v. State Of West Bengal And ORS.

10 20.09.2023 NB Ct. 14 WPA 22727 of 2023 Abedali Laskar @ Abed Ali Laskar Vs.

The State of West Bengal & Ors.

Mr. Mrityunjoy Chatterjee, Mr. Debapriya Majumder.

...for the petitioner.

Mr. Amal Kr. Sen ld. AGP., Mr. Lal Mohan Basu.

....for the State.

This is an application for police protection to attend the meeting for election of Sanchalak of Upa-Samitis to be held on 22.09.2023 at 12 noon at the meeting hall of Uttar Kusum Gram Panchayat.

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 on behalf of the petitioner submits as follows. The petitioner is the Upa-Pradhan of Uttar Kusum Gram Panchayat. Earlier, police protection and other security arrangements had to be made for successfully holding the meetings of the Panchayat Samity and for formation of Board. The petitioner has a right to vote in the meeting for election of Sanchalak of Upa Samiti at Uttar Kusum Gram Panchayat to be held on 22.09.2023. He does not belong to the ruling political party. The miscreants of the ruling political dispensation might try to prevent him from attending such meeting. It is even apprehended that the Administration might

start false cases in order to prevent him from attending such meeting.

Learned Additional Government Pleader representing the State relies on the report and submits as follows. The allegations made in the writ petition are denied. On the complaint of the petitioner, a proceeding was initiated under Section 107 of the Code. The police are keeping a strict vigil in the locality and in fact, a police camp had already been set up since long at Uttar Kusum Gram Panchayat.

It appears that the petitioner is apprehending that some local miscreants might prevent him from attending the meeting for election in the Upa-Samity of the Uttar Kusum Gram Panchayat.

Let the petitioner report to the Officer-in-Charge, Usti Police Station on 22.09.2023 at 10 am. so that the Officers can make necessary police arrangements for escorting the petitioner to the venue of the meeting in time. The travel from the police station to the venue shall be videographed. In no event, shall the Administration prevent the petitioner from attending the meeting. In case he is sought to be arrested in connection with any case, the same shall wait till the meeting is over and even if he is arrested in connection with a case before the order could be communicated, the Administration shall have parole granted and escort him to the meeting hall for attending the meeting.

Even otherwise, the police shall 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.)