Calcutta HC directs WB govt to ensure normalcy in Darjeeling

Violence erupted in Darjeeling during an agitation by GJM on June 9 when a cabinet meeting was being held at the Raj Bhawan there.

The Calcutta High Court today directed the West Bengal government to take steps to restore peace and normalcy in unrest-hit Darjeeling hills where a shutdown has been called by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha.

The directions were passed by a division bench comprising acting Chief Justice Nishita Mhatre and Justice T Chakraborty.

The bench passed the directions while reiterating earlier orders of the Supreme Court and of the Calcutta High Court, that either a bandh or general strikes were illegal.

Acting on a petition filed by a lawyer, the bench directed the state government to submit a report on the situation in the hills after two weeks, when the matter will come up for hearing.

The bench also directed the state to make an estimate of the loss to government, and private property due to the agitation.

It asked petitioner Ramaprasad Sarkar to serve a notice to GJM chief Bimal Gurung and party general secretary Roshan Giri, who are respondents in the petition.

Violence erupted in Darjeeling during an agitation by GJM on June 9 when a cabinet meeting was being held at the Raj Bhawan there.

The hills have been restive since then and incidents of violence and arson have been reported from Darjeeling town and other places in the hills.