Overview
- Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi dismissed West Bengal’s appeal and asked the High Court to proceed as scheduled.
- The Calcutta High Court had refused to stay a trial court order transferring the case diary to the NIA, saying the agency needs it to prepare the report sought earlier by the Supreme Court.
- The NIA has invoked UAPA Section 15(1)(a) in the case, with the government citing alleged use of lethal or inflammable materials and the area’s proximity to the Bangladesh border.
- The state argued the FIR cites only state-law offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the West Bengal Maintenance of Public Order Act and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, challenging the Centre’s January 28 direction under Section 6(5) of the NIA Act.
- The High Court has directed the NIA to file a status report by March 24 as it weighs whether facts support UAPA offences arising from January’s unrest in Murshidabad.