Calcutta High Court quizzes petitioner over PIL on Singur agitation chapter in school textbook

The Calcutta High Court on Monday expressed a disinclination to entertain a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition alleging that there was a misrepresentation about the Tata Nano Singur agitation in a history textbook published by the West Bengal Higher Secondary Board.

The Division Bench of Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Partha Sarathi Sen asked if the Court can look into correctness of historical incidents mentioned in an an academic book

"If in history book, something is projected in a particular way, which in your opinion is not correct, how can we decide which view is correct? How a writ court can examine? We are asking you about scope of judicial review," Chief Justice Paul asked the petitioner's counsel Uday Sankar Chattopadhyay.

The Court also asked whether it was competent to decide the issue.

"'A' historian may say this is the correct history, 'B' historian may say 'no, this is a wrong history'; how the writ court will examine which version is correct?," the Bench remarked.

Chattopadhyay urged the Court to look into the contents of the portion about Singur agitation. However, the Bench was unconvinced and asked the counsel to first address it on the scope of writ jurisdiction.

When the counsel said that the Supreme Court had recently took cognizance of the contents of a textbook published by National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), Chief Justice Paul said,

"Supreme Court exercised its suo motu power under Article 142 of the Constitution. It is a different matter altogether but so far this matter is concerned, would you please address us on what is the scope of judicial review under writ jurisdiction."

The petitioner's counsel responded that the Court can form an expert committee. The Court was not convinced. However, it granted the petitioner two weeks' time to examine the issue and then argue the matter.

The PIL filed by Advocate Pronay Basak alleges that chapter 'Krishijami r Adhikar: Singur Andolan' included in the class VIII history textbook of the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education, is intended to promote the ideology of the ruling political party, disseminate incorrect information, and influence the minds of young students.

"Expert committee of the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education responsible for drafting this abovementioned content, under the direction of the present ruling party, has intentionally manipulated the presentation of events to serve the party's interests, constituting a form of political propaganda aimed at influencing students' opinion, by disseminating misleading information," the PIL contends.

in 2006, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee – then an Opposition leader - had led an agitation against the acquisition of agricultural land in Singur for the establishment of an automobile factory by Tata Motors. The Tatas later decided not to go ahead with the project due to the agitation. The land was subsquently given back to the original owners.