The police chiefs of Jhargram and West Midnapore, accused of failing to comply with an order of Calcutta High Court banning hunting festivals, appeared in person before a division bench last week.
The officers submitted a report in response to a petition alleging police inaction in stopping killing of wild animals in April in Jhargram and West Midnapore.
Amitesh Banerjee, counsel for the police officers, assured the court on May 10 that the “state administration shall not spare any means to ensure that the orders of this Court are implemented in their true spirit and intent”.
After going through the report and listening to the counsel, the division bench of Justice Apurba Sinha Ray and Justice Arijit Banerjee said the physical presence of the police superintendents was being “dispensed with for the time being”.
“As of now, we have no reason to believe that the State administration is not interested in implementing orders of this Court. We have full faith in the law enforcing agency of this state,” the order said.
On April 28, the bench had said that “prima facie” it seemed the police were “reluctant or unable” to enforce the court’s orders.
“On May 10, our counsel listed the actions the police took to stop hunting. He also spoke about the problems created by the petitioners (who accused the police of inaction) who had overstepped their authority by searching the belongings of the villagers who had gathered on the festival days. We can stop people from hunting but cannot stop them from celebrating their traditional rituals,” said the source.
“The petitioners also misled excise officials into trying to stop the tribals from drinking traditional rice beer (haria). The high court never said tribals couldn’t drink haria,” the source said.
The petitioners are members of an NGO called Human and Environment Alliance League (HEAL).
A case has been registered against members of the NGO under the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989, based on complaints by some villagers.
A few HEAL members were allegedly assaulted by some hunters in Jhargram on April 13. An FIR has been filed.
On May 10, the court stayed action in all cases. The matter will be heard again on May 15.
“The (May 10) order said the court has no reason to believe that the administration is not interested in implementing the orders.... We have been able to explain our stand,” said Arijit Sinha, police superintendent of Jhargram.
The police superintendent of West Midnapore did not answer calls.
Siddhartha Mitra, counsel for the petitioners, said: “The police have assured the court that the orders will be enforced in letter and spirit.”
