'We are already facing allegations'..: know why the Supreme Court said this

The Supreme Court of India has consented to listen to a plea over the latest violence in West Bengal's Murshidabad. The case, which has been referred, will be taken up on April 22. The plea, moved by attorney Vishnu Shankar Jain, seeks the court to invoke President's rule in Bengal and send paramilitary troops to the state to restore law and order.

Background of the case 

The violence in Murshidabad has been continuous, with news of clashes and unrest in the area. The crisis has been compounded by the recent protests against the Waqf Amendment Act. The opposition parties have been insisting on action by the state government to bring back peace and order in the area.

The response of the Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has accepted the plea and will hear the case on April 22. While hearing, the court was apprehensive about trespassing on the rights of the executive, but also realized the necessity to take a call on the situation. The court has requested the petitioner to give information regarding the flight of Hindus from the area and the ground situation at present.

Previous petitions and hearings

Two other petitions earlier were presented at the Supreme Court on the violence in Murshidabad. The court however instructed the petitioners to remedy their petitions with more specific reasons and facts. The court gave emphasis to giving proper information as well as documentations to enable the claims mentioned in the petitions to be fully supported.

The involvement of the Calcutta High court

The Calcutta High Court too has been occupied with the case, with division bench of Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Raja Basu Chowdhury hearing a Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari petition. The high court has reserved its order on keeping the deployment of central forces going in the conflict-affected areas of Murshidabad.  

The need for rehabilitation and support 

The Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court have urged the need to provide assistance to the victims of the violence.
 The Supreme Court's move to take up the Murshidabad violence case is a reflection of the urgency required to address the issue. The intervention of the court will hopefully give a much-needed push to settle the issue and restore peace to the area. As the case unfolds, it will be necessary to keep track of the developments and ensure that the rights of all concerned are safeguarded.