The High Court on Monday directed the concerned bodies of the government to conduct a judicial probe into the negligence of the respondents in failing to prevent the incident of humiliation of college teacher Swapan Kumar Biswas in Narail by wearing a garland of shoes around his neck over a Facebook post.
The Chief Judicial Magistrate of Narail has been asked to investigate into the matter and submit a report to the court within six weeks.
The HC also directed the authorities concerned of the government to provide security and medical facilities to Swapan Kumar and his family members.
The High Court bench of Justice Bhishmadev Chakrabortty and Justice S M Maniruzzaman passed the order after hearing a writ petition filed by Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), a rights organisation.
The High Court also issued a rule upon the concerned bodies of the government to explain in four weeks as to why the failure or inaction of the respondents in stopping the so-called “mob justice” in their presence and protecting people from humiliation in the presence of police and district administration in different places including the incident of humiliation of Swapan Kumar Biswas, acting principal of Mirzapur United College in Narail Sadar, shall not be declared illegal.
Home Secretary, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Deputy Commissioner of Narail, Superintendent of Police in Narail, and Officer in Charge of Narail Sadar Police Station have been made respondents in the rule.
Barrister Aneeq R Haque appeared in the court on behalf of the writ petitioner, while Deputy Attorney General Samarendra Nath Biswas represented the state.
Lawyer Purnima Jahan, on behalf of non-government organisation Ain O Salish Kendra filed the writ petition on July 4 this year.
On June 28, Purnima drew the attention of the court to the humiliation of the Narail teacher who was garlanded with shoes on June 18. The HC bench then advised her to file a writ petition.
Earlier on June 17, a student of Mirzapur United College in Narail made a post on Facebook supporting suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma, whose recent remark insulting Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) created global outrage among Muslims.
There was day-long unrest in the college over the post and rumours that acting principal Swapan Kumar Biswas had sided with the student, following which police escorted him out of the campus but not before he was garlanded with shoes. A video of the incident also went viral on social media that sparked huge criticism.