Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata

Kolkata, Apr 28: The Calcutta High Court has strongly reprimanded the West Bengal government for failing to comply with its directive to hand over land to the Border Security Force for fencing the India-Bangladesh border.

A division bench headed by Chief Justice Sujoy Paul observed that only 8 km of the 127 km stretch identified for fencing has been handed over so far, despite a clear deadline of March 31 set earlier by the court.

On January 27, the bench had directed the state to transfer 127 km of land already acquired or purchased, for which compensation had been received from the Centre, to the BSF across nine districts.

Expressing strong displeasure over non-compliance, the court on April 22 noted that the state had submitted only a “sketchy and evasive” report without providing specific details of action taken.

“What is surprising and shocking is that in a matter of national importance, the respondent state has not thought it proper to file their report on affidavit,” the bench remarked.

The court imposed a cost of Rs 25,000 on the officer who filed the report, directing that the amount be paid from his personal funds. It also criticised the lack of clarity in the submission, stating that it failed to provide date-wise and district-wise progress.

The bench, also comprising Justice Partha Sarathi Sen, has directed the state government to file a detailed affidavit within two weeks, outlining steps taken on a day-to-day and district-wise basis to comply with its order.

The court further observed that if the entire land could not be handed over, the government should clearly explain the reasons for the delay, which were absent in the current report.

The observations came during the hearing of a public interest litigation filed by Subrata Saha, seeking directions to ensure timely transfer of land to the BSF in the interest of national security. The matter is scheduled for the next hearing on May 13.