Supreme Court halts Lok Sabha Privilege Committee proceedings against West Bengal officials

New Delhi, Feb 19: The Supreme Court intervened on Monday, halting the summons issued by the Lok Sabha Privilege Committee to West Bengal Chief Secretary Bhagwati Prasad Gopalika and other state officials. This move comes after a complaint lodged by West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Sukanta Majumdar regarding the Sandeshkhali violence incident.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra issued the stay order and issued notice to the Lok Sabha secretariat, effectively putting a pause on any further proceedings by the privileges committee.

The complaint filed by Majumdar alleged “misconduct, brutality, and life-threatening injuries” against him during the Sandeshkhali protests on February 13 and 14. The incident reportedly involved Majumdar being obstructed from entering Sandeshkhali, where women were protesting alleged atrocities committed by Trinamool Congress leader Shahjahan Sheikh and his associates.

Alongside Gopalika and the Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar, other officials including the District Magistrate and Assistant Superintendent received summons notices. Senior Advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi represented the West Bengal officials, arguing against the invocation of privilege in this context.

Sibal pointed out discrepancies in the complaint, emphasizing that it was based on false claims. He highlighted that contrary to the allegations, numerous police officers, including women, were injured during the incident. Singhvi asserted that privilege was not intended for matters of political activity.

Senior Advocate Devashish Bharuka, representing the Lok Sabha secretariat, clarified that the privileges committee’s proceedings were routine and didn’t imply guilt. He stressed that this was the first sitting of the privileges committee and that officials were not being accused of anything, highlighting it as a regular process initiated upon receiving a notice from an MP.