In another setback to the Mamata Banerjee government, the Calcutta high court on Monday declared as unconstitutional its notification withdrawing recognition to police associations in the state.
On January 10, 2012, the state government had issued a notification cancelling the recognition of three police associations claiming that the move was aimed at keeping the police force free from any political influence and bias. Declaring that the government decision violated the constitutional provisions and it was against natural justice, Justice Dipankar Dutta ordered the state government to restore the recognition within a week.
The associations- West Bengal Non-gazetted Police Karmachari Associa-tion, West Bengal Police Association and Calcutta Police Association — had challenged the government’s order in the Calcutta high court. After a prolonged legal battle, the court gave its ruling in favour of the police.
The West Bengal government had argued that the police could not form trade unions nor could it associate with any political dispensation.