Demand for metropolitan court in Siliguri

TT, Siliguri: Brihattar Siliguri Nagarik Mancha, a citizens' forum, has urged chief minister Mamata Banerjee to help set up a metropolitan magistrate's court in Siliguri.

Such a move will ease the inconvenience of residents living in areas under Bhaktinagar and New Jalpaiguri police stations who need to travel to Jalpaiguri, 45km away, for legal work. Bhaktinagar and New Jalpaiguri fall under Jalpaiguri district.

"We have welcomed the chief minister's decision to set up a police commissionerate here and also her plan to expand the jurisdiction of Siliguri Metropolitan Police by including more police stations from Siliguri sub-division under its area. But at the same time, we appeal to her to establish a Metropolitan Magistrate's Court here for convenience of residents, who are residing under Bhaktinagar and New Jalpaiguri police stations. Even today, both these police stations come under the judicial jurisdiction of Jalpaiguri district and people need to travel there," said Sunil Sarkar, president of the forum.

Back on August, 2012, the state had set up the Siliguri Police Commissionerate.

The Forum has already taken up the issue with state ministers Aroop Biswas and Gautam Deb. Last month, it sent a memorandum to the chief minister.

"On September 15, we will hold a citizens' convention here to highlight our demand and to build up support in its favour," said Ratan Banik, secretary of the Mancha.

The Forum has already taken up the issue with state ministers Aroop Biswas and Gautam Deb. Last month, it sent a memorandum to the chief minister.

"On September 15, we will hold a citizens' convention here to highlight our demand and to build up support in its favour," said Ratan Banik, secretary of the Mancha.