New Delhi :The Supreme Court on Thursday (October 1) directed the West Bengal government and the Centre to respond to a petition filed by Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra, who has alleged that she was forcibly evicted from the Krishnanagar Circuit House in Nadia district late at night.
A bench comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for both the Union government and West Bengal, to file a counter affidavit by October 10. The matter will be heard again on that date.
Moitra has alleged that district administration officials asked her to leave the state-run circuit house on August 14 despite the room having been allotted to her. Her plea also seeks an independent inquiry and action against the officials involved, alleging that the eviction was contrary to security directions issued by the Calcutta High Court.
The proceedings before the Supreme Court, however, also concern allegations of obstruction in the implementation of Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) works in Moitra’s Krishnanagar constituency.
According to LiveLaw, Mehta initially questioned the maintainability of the petition, arguing that there are more than 500 MPs and allowing each of them to approach the Supreme Court seeking implementation of the scheme could create difficulties.
During the hearing, Justice Bagchi referred to a September 1 letter written by Moitra and raised concerns over the circumstances surrounding MPs’ use of the circuit house.
“We are just sharing our concern. Have you seen the 1st September letter? That if a Member of Parliament comes to the Circuit House, she must inform 3 days before,” Justice Bagchi said, as per LiveLaw.
Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for Moitra, sought clarification on whether Mehta was representing the Union government or West Bengal. Mehta said he was appearing for both.
The Solicitor General also requested the court not to issue notice, stating that doing so could create “sensationalism”. He instead offered to file the state’s response to the letters by the following week.
The court accepted the request for time and recorded that Mehta had entered appearance and sought time to submit the counter. It further provided for a rejoinder, if any, within another week.
The order, as quoted by LiveLaw, stated: “Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan contends that the petitioner is a member of parliament. Mr Mehta, learned Solicitor General, enters appearance and seeks time to file counter. Rejoinder, if any, for another week. Item will appear after the next two weeks.”
The Supreme Court’s direction comes after Moitra approached it over the alleged August 14 incident and the claimed obstruction of MPLADS-related work in her constituency. The state and Centre are now required to place their responses before the court ahead of the next hearing on October 10.
