SUVENDU ADHIKARI Vs. STATE OF WEST BENGAL

JUDGEMENT

(1.) In the instant writ petition, the petitioner has sought for direction upon the respondent authorities to submit a report as to why the security cover provided to the petitioner by the State- respondents suddenly withdrawn as the petitioner being the Leader of the Opposition is entitled to security cover by the State respondents. Accordingly, the petitioner seeks direction upon the respondent nos.2 to 5 to maintain political neutrality and to oversee such security arrangements and to ensure that full proof security arrangement is made in respect of the petitioner including the security at the place of his visit for holding public meeting as well as route lining security arrangement and to act in accordance with law. Petitioner further seeks direction on the respondents to publish a list of persons who are being provided security cover by the State of West Bengal.

(2.) Brief facts leading to the case is that the petitioner as a political leader has acquired a status and has gathered support of millions of people out of love and affection towards him. It is alleged that on 19th December, 2020 the petitioner attended a mass political rally in Midnapore Town and joined Bharatiya Janata Party. Immediately, upon his joining, the supporters of his former political party being spear headed by some local leaders launched a chaotic, virulent, obnoxious mission of spiteful aggression and attack on the petitioner and his supporters hurling abuses. The day he was appointed as the Chairman-Managing Director of Jute Corporation of India, a position being equivalent to the rank of Union Cabinet Minister, he gained further prominence.

(3.) Admittedly, the petitioner was given status Z category protectee of the State, and even after the change of regime in 2011 the threat perception of the petitioner kept on escalating with his importance as a Mass Leader constantly being arisen. He had contested at Tamluk Constituency and was elected as the Member of Parliament in 2009 and had received severe threat to his life as per the credible information received by Intelligence Branch when the police authority in the district of Paschim Medinipur were alerted and directed to maintain extreme vigilance. Now, admittedly, the petitioner is Z category protectee by the Central Government in view of his severe threat perception in the month of September, 2020.