Date:19/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/19/stories/2007111960731600.htm

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West Bengal government may appeal in apex court

Special Correspondent

Against High Court directive to CBI on Nandigram firing

KOLKATA: The West Bengal government is considering an appeal to the Supreme Court against the ruling of the Calcutta High Court directing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to continue its probe into the police firing in Nandigram on March 14.

The High Court has observed the firing was unjustified and unconstitutional.

A decision is to be taken shortly, it was learnt here on Sunday. Though the certified copy of the High Court ruling is yet to reach the State government, legal opinion on the next course of action is being sought.

A Division Bench of the High Court comprising Chief Justice S.S. Nijjar and Justice P.C. Ghose, had given the ruling on November 16.

The veteran Marxist leader, Jyoti Basu, has spoken to Balai Roy, the State’s Advocate General in this regard and said the State government should move the Supreme Court.

Mr. Roy has said that he will advise the government to prefer an appeal.

It will question whether the CBI can inquire into any criminal case without the consent of the State government — a matter pending before a Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court following an earlier appeal.

Meanwhile, Gurudas Dasgputa, Communist Party of India MP, questioned the justification of the existence of the Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh [Resistance against Eviction from Land] Committee [backed by the Trinamool Congress] even after the Chief Minister dropped the proposed chemical hub in Nandigram area.

“Unfortunate”

Mr. Dasgupta, speaking to newspersons on the sidelines of a seminar, however described the recent developments in the area as unfortunate.

He did not support the manner in which they were addressed by the State administration.