The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to entertain a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the recent violence in Murshidabad district of West Bengal following protests over the newly-amended Waqf law.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh granted liberty to petitioner Satish Kumar Aggarwal to move the jurisdictional high court, clarifying that the plea could be filed online. “This practice of filing the petitions directly in the Supreme Court cannot be allowed. It is like demeaning the high courts,” Justice Kant remarked, underlining that the Supreme Court would not entertain petitions under Article 32 unless more than one state is involved.
The petitioner’s counsel, advocate Barun Kumar Sinha, contended that Aggarwal feared for his life if he were to approach the state high court, alleging that the police, in collusion with the perpetrators of violence, had implicated lawyers involved in similar cases under false charges.
The bench, however, maintained that the petitioner could safely file the petition virtually. “If you fear for your life, file the petition online. The registrar general of the high court will facilitate the process,” the bench directed.
In his petition, Aggarwal alleged that the local police and administration exhibited a “biased approach,” shielding those responsible for “ghastly incidents” that took place in Murshidabad between April 8 and April 12, 2025. The plea cited serious incidents of assault, arson, and communal targeting, particularly against members of the Hindu community, following the passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.
Aggarwal sought the constitution of an SIT led by a retired Supreme Court judge or, alternatively, a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe to ensure an impartial investigation and restore public confidence in the rule of law in West Bengal.
The court’s order signals a firm stance on discouraging litigants from bypassing high courts to directly file petitions in the apex court without adequate grounds.
