JU prof to move HC for rights panel relief

This is the first time Mahapatra would approach a court personally over the issue.

Professor Ambikesh Mahapatra of Jadavpur University,who is facing a case for circulating an email with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees cartoons,will submit a writ petition at the Calcutta High Court Wednesday with the appeal to direct the state government to implement the recommendations of West Bengal Human Rights Commission.

This is the first time Mahapatra would approach a court personally over the issue. Mahapatra and his neighbour Subrata Sengupta were arrested April 12 for forwarding an email containing a cartoon of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee,former rail ministers Mukul Roy and Dinesh Trivedi.

Mahapatra and Sengupta had to spend a night in the police lock-up and were granted bail the day after.

The WBHRC had taken took suo motu cognizance of the matter and,after a detailed inquiry,recommended August 13,2013 that compensation of Rs 50,000 be paid to each of them for the manner in which they were arrested and detained in the thana. WBHRC had recommended that the compensation be paid within six weeks.

Mahapatra,who is still an undertrial,said,We have decided to submit a writ petition before the Calcutta High Court tomorrow with an appeal to the court to pass an order for the state government to implement the WBHRC recommendations.

The criminal case that was slapped on Mahapatra and Sengupta is still being heard in an Alipore court.

In the last one year,there have been eight hearings. I have been summoned to the court at least nine times. The next hearing is on November12, said Mahapatra.

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