The Calcutta High Court issued an order on Tuesday to prevent a tribal organization from blocking national highways and railway tracks in West Bengal. This directive comes in response to the group’s planned protests demanding their inclusion in the scheduled tribe category. The bench, led by Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya, emphasized the need for dialogue and advised the state government to consider discussing the matter with the organization to find a peaceful resolution.
The organization, known as Bharat Jakat Majhi Pargana Mahal, had not only planned a blockade starting from 6 am on December 20 but also threatened an indefinite agitation should their demands, including the establishment of a Santhali medium education board, not be addressed by December 15. These demands extend to policy matters involving constitutional amendments for community reservation statuses, which the court recognized as beyond its mandate to dictate government policy formulation directly.
The court’s intervention was sought through a public interest litigation (PIL) that highlighted the potential disruptions from the proposed blockades, especially on National Highway 16, which could significantly affect the public at large. The legal counsel for the respondents presented a copy of their October 30 representation to the West Bengal chief minister, which outlined their demands and their plans for escalation if these were not met.
