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Calcutta HC Refuses PIL Against 'Babri Mosque' Plan Amid Landowner's Defiance

The Calcutta High Court has chosen not to intervene in a PIL challenging a controversial plan to build a 'Babri Mosque' in West Bengal. Instead, the court issued directives to ensure the stone-laying ceremony proceeds without disrupting public order. The situation is further complicated by the landowner's firm refusal to part with the property for this purpose. Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress has suspended the MLA behind the proposal, accusing him of inflaming communal tensions.

Key Points: Calcutta HC on Humayun Kabir's Babri Mosque PIL and TMC Suspension

  • Court directs suspended MLA Kabir to hold stone-laying event strictly within legal norms
  • Bench orders state and central govt cooperation on law & order
  • Landowner refuses to sell property, erects boundary wall in defiance
  • TMC suspends Kabir, accuses him of stoking religious sentiment for BJP
3 min read

Calcutta HC refuses to intervene in PIL against Humayun Kabir's proposal to build 'Babri Mosque' in Murshidabad

Calcutta High Court declines PIL against suspended TMC MLA's plan to build a 'Babri Mosque' in Murshidabad, directs strict law & order measures for Dec 6 event.

"The party will not maintain any connection with Kabir. By announcing the construction of the Babri Mosque, he had actually tried to reignite the bitter memories... - Firhad Hakim, TMC"

Kolkata, Dec 5

The Calcutta High Court on Friday declined to act on a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging suspended Trinamool Congress MLA Humayun Kabir's announcement to construct a “Babri Mosque” in Beldanga, Murshidabad, modeled on the erstwhile structure in Ayodhya.

A division bench of Calcutta High Court's Acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Partha Sarathi Sen, while refusing to entertain the plea, directed Kabir to organise the stone-laying programme of the proposed mosque on December 6 strictly in accordance with law-and-order norms.

The division bench also directed the West Bengal government and the police administration to ensure that the law & order situation is not disrupted due to the event.

The state government counsel informed the court that the police administration would take all necessary steps to follow the court's directions.

Arguing on behalf of the petitioner on Friday, senior advocate and the CPI(M) Rajya Sabha member, Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, submitted that the proposed event could trigger serious law & order problems in the sensitive area.

"The area where the proposed programme has been slated is highly sensitive. There had been records of tension and violence in that area in the past. Even the central armed forces personnel had to be deployed there then," Bhattacharya argued.

The division bench, thereafter, also directed the Union Government to cooperate with the state government in maintaining law & order on the day of the event.

Controversy has also escalated over the land at Beldanga in Murshidabad district, which Kabir identified as the proposed construction site. The landowner, a farmer in Murshidabad, has publicly declared that he will neither sell the land nor allow anyone to build a Babri Masjid on it.

He has also set up a boundary wall around the property. Kabir, however, issued a strong challenge, saying he would "give his life" to ensure the Babri Masjid is built if necessary.

On Thursday, the Trinamool Congress suspended Kabir from the party. Announcing the action, Urban Development Minister and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim said Kabir's remarks amounted to stoking religious sentiments and constituted a serious breach of party discipline.

"The party will not maintain any connection with Kabir. By announcing the construction of the Babri Mosque, he had actually tried to reignite the bitter memories of the original Babri Mosque in 1992. We feel that the BJP has some role to play in his recent activities. We also feel that the BJP is trying to ignite divisive politics by keeping Kabir in the forefront," Hakim said on Thursday.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priyanka N
Suspended by his own party! That says it all. TMC is right to call this out as an attempt to stoke religious sentiments. Why create a "Babri Mosque" now? The landowner himself is refusing. This is just a recipe for unnecessary tension in Bengal. We need development, not more division. 🙏
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Aman W
As someone from Murshidabad, I can say the area is indeed sensitive. The court's directions to the police and central forces are crucial. We just want to live in peace. Politicians from all sides should stop using our district as a chessboard for their games.
S
Sarah B
I respect the court's decision to not intervene, but I'm worried. The farmer owning the land has every right to refuse. How can someone propose to build on private land against the owner's will? The rule of law must protect the individual citizen first.
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Vikram M
The timing, just before elections, is highly suspicious. The court has done its job by ensuring law and order is prioritized. Now it's up to the people to see through these tactics and reject politics of polarization. Jai Hind.
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Kavitha C
While I understand the concerns, the High Court's refusal to entertain the PIL is technically correct. It's primarily a law and order issue, not something for a PIL. The real test will be on Dec 6th. Hope the police are fully prepared to prevent any mischief.

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