Sandeshkhali News: SC stays Parliament Privilege committee summons against Bengal Chief Secy, DGP & other officials; TMC says the world has seen the ‘drama’ of BJP State President

The Supreme Court on Monday has stayed further proceedings on a breach of privilege notice issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat to West Bengal Chief Secretary, DGP and other senior officials. The Privilege committee had issued summons on February 15, on the basis of a complaint filed by West Bengal BJP President Dr Sukanta Mazumdar alleging “misconduct, brutalities and life threatening injuries” at the hands of state police after he was stopped from marching towards the trouble hit Sandeshkhali village in North 24 Paraganas. Mazumdar is the Lok Sabha member of parliament from Balurghat constituency in West Bengal.

The Parliament committee had summoned Chief Secretary Bhagwati Prasad Gopalika, Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar, North 24 Parganas District Magistrate Sharad Kumar Dwivedi, Basirhat SP Hossain Mehdi Rehman, and Additional SP Partha Ghosh to appear before it on February 19.

State Chief Secretary had moved to Supreme Court with an urgent hearing challenging the legal validity of the summon. The argument on the behalf of the State government officials had been that the Privilege committee can only intervene when it is pertaining to something that has happened within the precincts of the Parliament. Adv Abhishek Manu Singhvi while representing the state of West Bengal had also argued that the none of the officials, summoned by the Privilege committee were present at the spot in Taki where the alleged scuffle unfolded after Mazumdar was stopped from moving towards Sandeshkhali on February 14.

The counsel for the Lok Sabha secretariat opposed the stay, stating that this is the first sitting of the privileges committee and procedural. The Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud has sought response from the Lok Sabha Secretariat in 4 weeks.

“The Privileged committee had breached its jurisdiction by issuing these summons. Where was the committee when TMC MPs led by National General Secy Abhishek Banerjee was manhandled by Delhi office inside the Krishi Bhavan last October? We welcome the SC order, it shows BJP hasn’t been able to completely capture the judiciary” said TMC leader Dr Santanu Sen.

While Mazumdar claimed that he was injured and fainted after being hit by police on February 14, videos which have now gone viral showed Mazumdar falling on the bonnet of the car he was standing on after one of his female BJP workers pushed the police officials around him and then pulled him down on the car bonnet. “The world has seen the drama…” said TMC Rajya Sabha nominee Sushmita Dev.