Murshidabad, West Bengal | April 13, 2025 – The Calcutta High Court on Saturday ordered the urgent deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) in Murshidabad district after violent clashes erupted during protests against the Waqf Amendment Act, resulting in the deaths of at least three people.
The order was passed during a special hearing on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari and advocate Tarun Jyoti. The court took serious note of the law and order situation and expressed that the measures taken by the state government were inadequate to control the unrest.
Court Criticizes State Government Response
The Bench of Justices Soumen Sen and Raja Basu Chowdhury stated that courts cannot remain silent when public safety is at risk. They emphasized that immediate and strong action is necessary to bring the situation under control.
The court noted, “Constitutional Courts cannot be mute spectators when the safety and security of people are in danger. Deployment of central armed forces earlier could have de-escalated the situation. It appears adequate measures were not taken in time.”
This led the court to order CAPF deployment in Murshidabad, adding that these forces should work in coordination with the local civil administration to ensure normalcy is restored.
Broader Deployment Possible if Needed
In its statement, the court clarified that this deployment is not limited only to Murshidabad. It may be extended to other districts of West Bengal if similar violence or disturbances are reported.
“Accordingly, we direct the deployment of Central Armed Forces in district of Murshidabad… This direction, however, shall not be limited to Murshidabad and can be extended to other districts if needed,” the court said.
State Government’s Stand Rejected
The West Bengal government opposed the PIL, calling it politically motivated. They informed the court that 138 people have been arrested and that six companies of the Border Security Force (BSF) were already deployed to support the local police.
Despite these actions, the court found that internal disturbances still existed in several areas. Therefore, the intervention of central forces was necessary to handle the situation effectively and ensure peace.
The court also directed the state to submit a comprehensive report on the steps taken in response to its directions.
Interim Arrangement Until April 17
The CAPF deployment will remain in place under this interim arrangement until April 17, 2025. The court has allowed all parties to submit their responses and affidavits before this date. The matter will be heard again on April 17.
This timeline allows the High Court to review how effectively the state and central authorities have managed the unrest and whether further steps are required.
Legal Representation
The petitioners were represented by senior advocates Soumya Majumder and Billwadal Bhattacharya, along with advocates Kaustav Bagchi, Anish Kr Mukherjee, and Suryaneel Das. The West Bengal government was represented by senior advocate Kalyan Bandyopadhyay and advocates Anirban Ray, Arka Kumar Nag, and Debangshu Dinda. The Central government was represented by Nilanjan Bhattacharjee and Siddhartha Lahiri.
