Kolkata, May 3
Calcutta High Court today issued five-point directives to the state government for restoring peace and normalcy in Nandigram, which the courts noted with regrets, had been disturbed, due to political clashes over the control of the local areas by the CPI (M) and the Krishi Bachaoo Committee.

The court, however, left it to the government if they will deploy the Army or paramilitary forces.

The court observed that the provision under Section 21 of the Constitution has been violated for which the government could not shirk its responsibilities.

State home secretary Prasad Ranjan Roy discarded the idea of deployment of troops but he did not rule out the possibility of engaging the paramiliary forces.

Chief Justice Surender Singh Nijjhar’s division bench, which also included Justice Pinaki Ranjan Ghose, after about two-hour long hearing today on the CBI enquiry vis-à-vis the status report on Nandigram, cautioned the government for its failure in protecting the common people under the Constitution.

The division ordered that necessary steps should be taken forthwith for providing the basic fundamental rights and privileges under the Constitution to the people at Nandigram. The government should also ensure the supplying of foods and other essential commodities to the people free of cost and arrange free medical treatment and healthcare programmes.

The court directed that the ferry services between Nandigram and Haldia, which were stopped, should be restored for facilitating the free movement of the local people.