‘Neither central nor state forces allowed in assembly'

Time of India

6 hours ago

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Kolkata: The advocate general, in his submission to Calcutta High Court, on Tuesday denied
BJP
's allegation of discrimination between central and state forces on the Bengal assembly precincts.
AG Kishore Datta pleaded that neither central nor state forces were allowed as security to MLAs. "However, there are some policemen deployed in the House, without arms, on the directions of the high court," Datta said.
He submitted that all other security personnel were made to wait in shelters. "The prayer made by the leader of opposition (Suvendu Adhikari) to allow central forces within the assembly precincts/House would result in an order of reverse discrimination," the AG said.
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Adhikari's counsel and BJP chief whip Jaydip Kar had earlier cited a notification issued by the assembly speaker on May 6, 2021, preventing central security forces accompanying BJP MLAs from entering the premises.
The AG urged the court of Justice Amrita Sinha to consider whether a direction to the legislature presided over by the speaker, who enjoys certain privileges and immunity under Articles 178, 194, 208, 212 and Entry 13 of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, was preferable and how far the functions of the legislature could be brought under the purview of judicial review.
Senior counsel for Adhikari, Billwadal Bhattacharya, held that the point of the matter was whether constitutional provisions could be suspended by issuing an administrative letter from the speaker's office.
Justice Sinha adjourned the hearing till July 21.