In a significant development, the Calcutta High Court on Tuesday dismissed the West Bengal government's appeal challenging a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into the 2018 Darivit High School firing incident in Islampur. The case involves the deaths of two former students in a violent episode of firing and bombing.
Court's Firm Stance on Justice and Fairness
A division bench comprising Justices Sabyasachi Bhattacharyya and Supratim Bhattacharya expressed its full satisfaction with the progress of the NIA investigation. The bench delivered a pointed observation, highlighting the core conflict of interest that necessitated the central agency's involvement.
The court stated it could not ignore the serious allegations leveled against the state police authorities, who operate under the direct supervision of the Bengal government. The justices remarked that in the interest of justice, it would be unfair to let the investigation remain with the very authorities against whom charges have been made, even without casting any direct aspersion on the police.
The Long Road to an NIA Investigation
The path to this High Court order began when the families of the two victims, Tapas Barman and Rajesh Sarkar, approached the judiciary. They alleged a lack of substantive action by the state police in investigating the September 2018 tragedy in North Dinajpur's Islampur.
Following their plea, a single-judge bench of the High Court had initially ordered the probe to be handed over to the NIA. The state government's subsequent appeal against this order has now been conclusively dismissed by the division bench, solidifying the central agency's role.
Pending Reports and Unfulfilled Promises
During the proceedings, the NIA's counsel presented a progress report, informing the court that the agency is currently awaiting a Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report to advance the case. While the court pressed for a definitive timeline, it ultimately directed the NIA to file its final report at the earliest possible opportunity.
Representing the victims' grieving families, their counsel brought several ongoing hardships to the court's attention. He revealed that the bodies of Tapas Barman and Rajesh Sarkar still could not be cremated, as the families are waiting for a second autopsy to be conducted. Furthermore, the counsel raised the critical issue of the non-payment of compensation to the families, who have endured both personal loss and procedural delays for over five years.
This ruling reinforces the independence of the judicial process and underscores the principle that investigations into serious crimes must be perceived as impartial and thorough. With the NIA probe now firmly mandated by the High Court, the focus shifts to the agency's completion of its investigation and the long-awaited delivery of justice for the families of the two slain former students.
