Respond to pleas for release of Netaji files: SC

In an impassioned plea, Mr. Basu replied that it was the fundamental right of every Indian to know what happened to a patriot like Netaji.

Calling Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose an “excellent person” and showing reluctance initially to intervene in the attempts to unravel the mystery behind his disappearance in 1945, the Supreme Court on Monday asked the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Prime Minister’s Office to reply swiftly to a Supreme Court advocate’s requests for de-classification of confidential files on Netaji.

“He is an excellent person. Why do you want to drag him over here?” Justice Anil R. Dave asked advocate Debjyoti Basu, appearing for Snehasis Mukherjee, an advocate practising in the Supreme Court.

In an impassioned plea, Mr. Basu replied that it was the fundamental right of every Indian to know what happened to a patriot like Netaji.

“Please do not bring fundamental rights everywhere,” Justice Dave retorted.

Mr. Basu asked what prevented the Centre from de-classifying the files when the West Bengal government has already allowed public access to 64 confidential files on Netaji late last week.

Asked whether any representations had been made by him to the government, Mr. Basu told the court that his client had written to the MHA and the Principal Secretary, PMO, on August 5 to release the Netaji files with them. The Bench gave Mr. Mukherjee two options — either to approach the High Court concerned or agree to have the Supreme Court pass an order directing the MHA and the PMO to reply to his representations of last month. Disposing of the petition, the court passed the direction to the PMO and the MHA to respond to Mr. Mukherjee’s representations at an “early date.”