India's Supreme Court has agreed to consider a plea by Sanatani Sangsad highlighting violence in West Bengal after the 2021 state polls. The application seeks a high-level monitoring committee chaired by a retired Supreme Court judge to oversee the state's law and order machinery. The bench directed the petitioner to implead the CBI as a party.
A Supreme Court bench led by the Chief Justice of India agreed to consider an application filed by the organisation Sanatani Sangsad. The plea pointed to violence in West Bengal following the 2021 Assembly elections and sought the immediate formation of a high-level monitoring committee, chaired by a retired SC judge, to oversee the functioning of the state's law and order machinery.
Senior Advocate V Giril, appearing for the petitioner, cited data received by the National Human Rights Commission's Enquiry Committee from the West Bengal Director General of Police. From May 2, 2021, to June 20, 2021, a total of 1,934 complaints were received, against which only 1,168 FIRs were registered despite naming 9,304 individuals. Only 1,345 arrests were made, accounting for 2.88% of the accused, most of whom are now out on bail.
The Enquiry Committee visited 311 spots for enquiries and found that in 188 instances—60% of cases—no FIRs had been registered at all. Even in the 123 cases where FIRs were filed, police diluted charges using milder sections of law in 33 instances, or 27%.
The bench recalled that investigations in some post-poll violence cases had been transferred to the CBI and directed Sanatani Sangsad to make the central probe agency a party to its petition.
