The Calcutta High Court single bench of Justice Tirthankar Ghosh on Wednesday directed the two petitioners who had moved the court against the police summons to appear before the Bidhannagar North Police by 10 am Thursday.
The court has asked the petitioners to appear before the police over the clash between the police and the protesting teachers on May 15 in front of Bikash Bhawan. However, there was no written order by the court to the tune.
Justice Ghosh further asked the state counsel not to take any coercive steps against the two petitioners Sudip Konar and Indrajit Mondol. Mondal and Konar had approached the High Court alleging that they were framed in a false case.
During the hearing, allegations of “overactivity” by the police against the protestors and the teachers, who were standing in front of Vikas Bhavan, being beaten up by Trinamool supporters were also mentioned.
Justice Ghosh observed, “The protestors and teachers can camp in Central Park in front of Bikash Bhavan. This is the initial proposal. The state will provide bio-toilets and drinking water.”
He further asked, “Was permission taken for this movement? 50-100 protesters should stay in Central Park in rotation basis. Government employees should not be injured.”
Counsel Swapan Banerjee, who is representing the state government, submitted, “The protesters in front of Bikas Bhavan behaved like hooligans. Police personnel were attacked.”
Counsel Kalyan Banerjee, also appearing for the state, submitted, “Even a pregnant woman was not allowed to leave Bikar Bhawan for a ‘peaceful movement’ in the state.”
Justice Ghosh observed, “You are teachers, behave like teachers. Otherwise, the police will have to take action. You are teachers, I understand your situation, but not all government employees are involved. The State government is also sympathetic towards your situation. It is being alleged that you have locked Bikas Bhavan. How do we know if this is true or false?”
To this, Kalyan Banerjee submitted, “The door of Bikas Bhavan and the police barricade have been broken. One is climbing over the other and crossing the wall. Are these teachers of our state? We can’t do anything, they will only loot. It’s not just about the lives of the protesters; we have to think about the lives of the rest as well. The state is reviewing.”
He further added, “The country’s number one lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi is fighting for them. The Supreme Court has asked them to take the test. What will we do? Tell these two (petitioners) to go to the police station today. Go and tell them who they were, we will not do anything to these two.”
Meanwhile, Chinmoy Mondol, one of the protesting teachers, confirmed that the two whom Calcutta High Court has asked to appear before the police would abide.
On Tuesday, the protesting teachers had written to the Chief Minister and the education minister seeking an appointment for discussion.
Meanwhile, the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education has show-caused some of the protesting teachers for the violence on May 15.