Bengal vs Centre Escalates As CBI Takes Over 30 Post-Poll Violence Cases

Last year several opposition-ruled states - including Punjab, Kerala and Maharashtra - also withdrew general consent, amid protests and allegations that the BJP-led government at the centre was misusing agencies to harass political opponents

The Bengal government on Wednesday asked the Supreme Court for an urgent hearing of an original suit accusing the centre and central probe agencies of violating the federal structure by continuing to register cases in the state despite the withdrawal of general consent. Senior advocate Sidharth Luthra mentioned the suit - filed under Article 131 of the constitution, which gives the court original jurisdiction to hear disputes between the centre and a state government, or between two states - before Chief Justice NV Ramana's bench for urgent hearing. "Even after three years of the state withdrawing general consent to the CBI for registration of cases related to incidents in Bengal, the agency continues to violate federal structure of governance by registering case suo motu," the state government said in court. "Law and order, and police were put, as per the constitution, under the exclusive jurisdiction of the states," the state added.