Calcutta HC Denies Urgent Listing of PIL against Attack on ED Officers

The Calcutta High Court on Monday refused to grant urgent hearing to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition that highlighted the recent attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officers in the Sandeshkhali area of North 24 Parganas district.

A bench of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Supratim Bhattacharya stated that they would address the matter on Thursday, deferring it from an immediate consideration today.

“We have read your petition in the newspapers. We will hear your matter in the due course, that is on Thursday,” remarked the Chief Justice, responding to the petitioner’s counsel who sought an urgent hearing.

The counsel argued, “After the incident, there has been unrest in the area; thus, this court should hear the matter.”

A group of ED sleuths was attacked and assaulted by locals in the Sandeshkhali area during an investigation into an alleged ‘ration distribution scam’ linked to a local member of the Zilla Parishad. The locals claimed that the ED officers were attempting to outrage the modesty of women.

The scheduled date for the hearing on this matter is January 11, 2023.