GJM files affidavit against contempt petition

ENS, Kolkata, Sep 26 2013: General Secretary of Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM), Roshan Giri, Wednesday filed an affidavit against a contempt petition, which had alleged that his party and top leaders did not follow the order passed by the High Court August 14. 

That order asked the GJM to explain, through an affidavit, as to why the party should not be asked to compensate for the damage of public and private properties in the Hills incurred due to an illegal bandh it orchestrated in July and August, which, again, was in defiance of an earlier order issued by the court. 

While Giri, Wednesday refused to claim responsibility for losses, saying it was "people's agitation", he did not say anything about the content of the affidavit which he filed on behalf of the GJM, and added his party's counsel would argue on the contempt petition and the affidavit tomorrow during the hearing.

The contempt petition against the GJM, filed by Advocate Ramaprasad Sarkar, had alleged that the party's observance of an indefinite bandh was a violation of the SC and the HC order, which is illegal. 

The party was then asked by a Division Bench to submit an affidavit explaining the situation, which it did not. Advocate Sarkar filed another petition in September, alleging GJM has failed to obey court order. 

The GJM, however, had approached the SC on September 16, challenging the two previous orders, but the SC ruled out the plea and returned the case to the HC.