Calcutta Hc Quashes Order for Section 144 in Sandeshkhali

A single-judge Bench of the Calcutta High Court quashed the imposition of Section 144 in Sandeshkhali, West Bengal, stating that such orders should only be applied in troubled zones. Justice Jay Sengupta ordered additional armed police deployment but allowed state BJP leaders to visit the area freely. The decision came after police halted a BJP team led by Suvendu Adhikari on their way to Sandeshkhali.

Kolkata: A single-judge Bench of the Calcutta High Court, on Tuesday quashed the order for imposition of Section 144 at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. There is tension in the area as women have been protesting in Sandeshkhali since last Thursday pressing for the arrest of absconding Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan and his associates.

Giving the logic for quashing the notification for imposing Section 144, the single- judge Bench of Justice Jay Sengupta said that such prohibitory orders should be issued only at places identified as troubled zones.

Since in this case, Section 144 has been imposed in the entire area, Justice Jay Sengupta decided to quash the notification on the prohibitory orders.The court at the same time ordered for deployment of additional armed police personnel at Sandeshkhali.