The Calcutta High Court on Thursday ordered the principals of Jogesh Chandra Chaudhuri Day College and Jogesh Chandra Chaudhuri Law College in Kolkata to ensure the safety and security of their students. The court also directed the West Bengal government to submit a report on the steps taken to prevent the entry of outsiders into the college campus and the safety and security measures put in place for the students.
The high court was hearing a petition filed by Deshma Ghosh, a fifth-year student from the law college. Ghosh had moved the high court on Wednesday, seeking security for all students, alleging that outsiders were entering the campus ahead of Holi, forcefully applying colours and throwing water on students. She also said that the police were not taking any complaints.
“In the name of Holi, outsiders entered the college premises and put chilli powder on the students. My client is feeling threatened to go to college,” Arko Kumar Nag, the counsel for the petitioner, submitted in court.
While the petitioner had alleged that Shabbir Ali was an outsider who entered the college accompanied by others, his counsel Partho Sarathi Burman, submitted, “I was not present. False, baseless allegations are being put on me.”
Hearing the allegations, Justice Basu summoned the officer in-charge (OC) of Charu Market police station to court.
Neel Basu, the counsel for the law college principal, submitted that the college was closed (on Wednesday) and that the OC had been informed but no complaint was lodged as the incident took place in front of the president of the governing body of the college.
Justice Basu expressed concern for the safety and security of the students in the college. “I am concerned about the student who is insecure. The route of the complaint should be student to principal to police. The principal has to lodge a complaint, the police have to act,” Justice Basu said.
Biswabrata Basu Mallick, the counsel for the state government, submitted that the incident had taken place inside the college premises and “the police cannot enter” the campus.
Justice Basu observed, “The moment the incident happened, the principal must act. Successful you (state) have made the police vegetable. There is a route…if you find the principal is reluctant, then you seek safeguard elsewhere.”
The counsel representing the governing body of the college informed the court that a CCTV has been installed and the college will be introducing a biometric system within a few months.
After hearing all the sides, the court asked the principals to file police complaints.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Ghosh said, “Outsiders regularly enter our college. We do not feel safe and the police take no action.”
Last month, the Calcutta High Court had directed the police to provide security for Saraswati Puja festivities at Jogesh Chandra Chaudhuri Law College.