Over 2,000 Women Lawyers Claim Bengal Post-Poll Violence 'Not Even Spared Women, Children'

West Bengal Post-Poll Violence: In a letter to the Chief Justice of India N V Ramana, a total of 2,093 women lawyers on Monday sought Supreme Court intervention in alleged post-poll violence taking place in West Bengal.

They asked for the CJI to take cognisance of the matter and constitute a Special Investigation team so that FIRs and investigations into the matter can go forward.

The women advocates claimed that West Bengal is grappled with violence since May 2 after the assembly election wrapped up in the state. They claimed that women and children have also been affected by it. The lawyers, including the ones from West Bengal, said that there is a "constitutional crisis" in the state which the highest legal body in India must be aware of.

The lawyers wrote, "The incidents of violence have shackled the conscience of thousands of women lawyers across the length and breadth of ''Bharat''. It is stated with utmost grief that the perpetrators of violence have not even spared women and children."

In the plea, the lawyers also alleged that the police is also siding with the perpetrators inciting violence in the state which has made it difficult for the victims to register complaints. There is a complete breakdown of the constitutional machinery in Bengal, the lawyers claimed.

Here are the key points in the women lawyers' letter to the CJI:

• Apart from asking for a Special Investigation team to register complaints and investigation of the alleged deaths in the state, the lawyers asked the CJI to appoint a nodal officer who does not belong to West Bengal.
• They also sought a time-bound direct court-monitored investigation into the matter including a specially constituted fast track court for the cases emanating from the post-poll violence in the state.
• They said, "Issue Directions that all post poll violence victims/family members may be duly compensated for death /injuries, loss of property etc. by the State of West Bengal."
• The lawyers asked CJI to direct the Director-General of Police in West Bengal to set up an effective complaint mechanism on priority. In addition to that, they asked for the top court to call for daily reports regarding the FIRs received by the Police from all channels.