NCSC seeks President rule in West Bengal after SandeshKhali Violence with women. NCSC recommends President’s rule in West Bengal for alleged harassment of women by TMC supporters in Sandeshkhali. We have recommended that President’s rule should be imposed in West Bengal over the situation there under Article 338 that aims to safeguard rights of SCs,” Halder said.
According to the mandate given to the NCSC under Article 338 of the Constitution, it is the duty of the Commission to present to the President annually and at other times, as the Commission may deem fit, reports upon the working of the constitutional safeguards of the Scheduled Castes.
He said the President assured the commission that she would look into the matter and take proper action. Halder said the state government tried to dissuade them from visiting the area.
Many women in Sandeshkhali are demanding the immediate arrest of Sheikh, who has been absconding since an Enforcement Directorate (ED) team that raided his house in connection with an alleged ration scam was attacked by a mob last month.
He said West Bengal has the second highest population of the SC in the country and they are suffering due to the violence. He said over the matter of violence, the Commission has also sent a notice to the state government to take immediate action.
Why is NCSC seeks President rule in West Bengal and What happening in Sandeshkhali?
The women further claimed that they were tortured by Trinamool leaders who kidnapped their husbands and then summoned their wives to the party’s local office. “If we refused to go… they would thrash them. We were forced…” one woman, who did not reveal her identity, said.
The charges came before the Supreme Court this morning after an advocate filed a PIL, or public interest litigation, requesting an investigation by a special investigation team or the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The PIL also demands retribution against cops who allegedly refused to register rape complaints.
Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee has denied the allegations, saying “… have never allowed injustice” and accusing the BJP of inciting trouble in Sandeshkhali ahead of the Lok Sabha election.
“First they targeted Sheikh Shahjahan through ED, and then started trouble [in Sandeshkhali] by getting people in. There is an RSS base [there]… there were riots earlier too,” she said.
She further informed the Assembly that 17 people, including former Communist Party of India (Marxist) MLA Nirapada Sardar and local BJP leader Bikash Singh, have been arrested so far. “No one involved in any wrongdoing will be spared… I have sent the women’s commission and formed a police team,” said Banerjee.
Uttam Sardar, a local Trinamool leader who was suspended last week, has also been arrested.
What is NCSC?
The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) is a constitutional body in India established under Article 338 of the Constitution of India. Its main function is to monitor and safeguard the interests of the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and to ensure that they are not discriminated against or exploited in any manner.
- Investigating and inquiring into specific complaints with respect to the deprivation of rights and safeguards of the SCs.
- Monitoring the implementation of constitutional and legislative safeguards for the SCs and evaluating the progress of their socio-economic development.
- Making recommendations to the President of India or the appropriate authorities for effective implementation of safeguards and measures for the welfare of SCs.
- Presenting to the President an annual report on the working of the safeguards for the SCs.
- Participating and advising on the planning process of socio-economic development of SCs.
- Undertaking studies, research, and analysis on various aspects of the socio-economic development of SCs.
West Bengal govt run by the rapist, of the rapist and for the rapist@BJP4India@BJP4Bengal@DrsukantaBJP#Sandeshkhali #SandeshkhaliHorror #WestBengal #Bengal pic.twitter.com/5E3x5tElxx
— Gaurav Bhatia गौरव भाटिया 🇮🇳 (@gauravbhatiabjp) February 14, 2024
What is President Rule?
President’s rule in India refers to the constitutional mechanism under which the President of India takes over the administration of a state in certain specified situations, primarily when the state government is unable to function according to the provisions of the Constitution. This provision is outlined in Article 356 of the Indian Constitution, which allows the Union government to assume control of the state’s governance when there is a breakdown of constitutional machinery in the state.
The circumstances under which President’s rule can be imposed include:
- When a state government is unable to carry out its constitutional responsibilities due to a political breakdown or administrative failure.
- When there is a situation where the governance of the state cannot be carried out according to the provisions of the Constitution.
- When there is a failure to comply with directions from the Union government on matters of constitutional importance.
However, it’s essential to note that the imposition of President’s rule in a state is a temporary measure and is not meant to replace the democratically elected state government. The President’s rule is intended to be an emergency provision to restore the proper functioning of the state government, and it is imposed for a limited period.
Once President’s rule is imposed, the state legislature is either suspended, or it is dissolved if it was not already in session. The Governor of the state is appointed as the President’s representative to run the administration of the state with the help of advisors appointed by the Union government.
President’s rule in India has been a matter of significant debate and controversy, with some critics arguing that it is often misused for political purposes or to undermine the autonomy of states. However, it remains an essential constitutional provision to ensure the proper functioning of the state government in exceptional circumstances.