The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday ordered the West Bengal government to file a detailed report regarding the disturbances at Jadavpur University during Education Minister Bratya Basu’s visit on March 1. Justice Tirthankar Ghosh expressed concerns about potential intelligence failures and the proximity of protestors to the minister, drawing comparisons with incidents in neighboring countries.
During the session, Justice Ghosh highlighted the seriousness of the situation, stating, “I don’t want this to be an example in the rest of West Bengal.” He stressed that while public demonstrations are part of democratic expressions, they should not escalate to the point where they endanger public officials.
The directive came in response to a petition filed by some students alleging police inaction over their complaints related to the event. The court was informed that on the day of Minister Basu’s visit, there was significant unrest, leading to confrontations between students and security forces.
Attorney General Kishore Dutta reported to the court that one individual had been arrested in connection with the incidents, which included allegations of the minister’s car and security vehicles being damaged, and the minister’s driver being assaulted. Furthermore, it was claimed that students vandalized university property and set fire to an office near the campus.
In light of these events, Justice Ghosh directed the state to prepare a comprehensive report on the day’s events and to submit this report by March 12, the next scheduled hearing date. He emphasized the importance of maintaining discipline, especially with the upcoming state assembly elections, and expressed concerns that similar incidents could multiply if not addressed.
Additionally, the court took issue with the police’s handling of an e-mail complaint from a student who was allegedly injured due to rash and negligent driving by the minister’s driver. Justice Ghosh ordered the police to file an FIR based on this complaint immediately.
The court’s discussion also touched on the broader implications of such disturbances, suggesting that if not managed properly, similar incidents could spread like an epidemic throughout the state, complicating crowd management and public safety.
