‘Maintain law & order’: SC warns Bengal DGP of ‘serious consequences’

Kolkata: The Supreme Court on Friday warned Bengal director general of police (DGP) Peeyush Pandey of "serious consequences" if law and order was not maintained during the SIR of poll rolls.A three-judge bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi sought a status report after one of the petitioners pointed out that the DGP's report stated 28 instances of violence, but alleged that no action was taken.
Even the counsel for the Election Commission, DS Naidu, submitted that provocative and incendiary speeches were being made across the state and claimed that no action was being taken. To this, the CJI remarked: "Unfortunately, in this country, all these irresponsible statements are being made before elections. Unless he ensures law and order is maintained, the DGP would face serious consequences."Appearing for the DGP, counsel AM Singhvi submitted that false statements were being made by the EC and that these cases were being investigated. "We are taking action," Singhvi claimed.When the EC's counsel made statements on instances of provocative speeches, the CJI asked Naidu why the commission was not taking any action against the police administration. Naidu submitted that they were hesitant because the case was before the apex court.During the previous hearing on Feb 9, solicitor general Tushar Mehta submitted that FIRs were not being registered against people accused of burning Form 7s or committing violence. The three-judge bench underlined that the DGP and district police chiefs were to ensure law and order as per their Jan 19 order. The court show-caused the DGP and asked him to file an affidavit in response to the allegations.A total of 7 matters were filed in the apex court pertaining to the SIR process in Bengal. Various issues were raised regarding the EC getting micro-observers and now special role observers, which, according to senior advocate Shyam Diwan, were overriding the electoral roll officers. "Special role observers cannot trump EROs," he submitted.Amid the to-and-fro, the CJI remarked that both the state govt and the EC had to understand that unless the SIR process was completed, there would be serious consequences. After giving the order, the CJI remarked, "This is what happens when there is a trust deficit."