The Calcutta High Court came down heavily on the West Bengal government, stating that it would be a matter of shame for state if even a fraction of claims that the residents of Sandeshkhalli village were repeatedly subjected to sexual assault and violence by influential political leaders or their aides, were found to be true.
The remarks were made by the Bench of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya made the observation on Thursday, while dealing with several petitions concerning unrest in the area.
BJP leader and Advocate Priyanka Tibrewal submitted during the hearing that she had affidavits running into thousands of pages with accounts by victims of sexual assault in Sandeshkhali.
She said while Trinamool Congress leader Shahjahan had been arrested, thousands of his aides were roaming around the villages and threatening people not to give statements against Shahjahan.
She alleged that the women were told that if they gave complaints, their husbands and sons will be beheaded.
Advocate General (AG) Kishore Datta opposed the arguments, contending that Tibrewal must clarify whether she was appearing as an ordinary citizen or as a representative of her political party.
The Bench, however, rejected the arguments on the grounds that even if one affidavit was correct, it was shameful.
Noting that the entire district administration and the ruling dispensation owed 100 percent moral responsibility, the High Court said the matter pertained to the safety of the citizens.
It mentioned the report of the National Commission for SC/ST, stating that West Bengal boasted of the NCRB data on safety of women.
Even if one percent of the affidavits filed by Tibrewal were proven to be right, then the public image and the statistics provided by the state government would fall, adding that the same could not be resurrected.
The Bench reserved its verdict on whether to transfer the investigation into the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The observations were made by the High Court on a case related to unrest in Sandeshkhali area of West Bengal following allegations of sexual assault and land grabbing in the region.