SSKM superintendent asked to submit report on MLA's injury

The Calcutta High Court today directed the surgeon superintendent of state-run SSKM Hospital to submit a report on the nature of injuries suffered by CPI(M) MLA Gouranga Chatterjee during an alleged scuffle in the West Bengal Assembly in December last year.
Justice Dipankar Dutta, on a prayer by Chatterjee, directed the surgeon superintendent to file the report on the incident that occurred on December 11 during House proceedings.
Appearing for Chatterjee, counsels Bikash Bhattacharya and Uday Shankar Chatterjee prayed that direction be passed for necessary steps against MLAs who assaulted the petitioner.
They also prayed that the SSKM superintendent be directed to explain why there was medical negligence in treatment of Chatterjee after he was taken there.

Appearing for the state, Advocate General Bimal Chatterjee submitted that the alleged incident occurred when the Assembly was in session and as such members of the House enjoyed immunity under Articles 211 and 212 of the Constitution.
He submitted that it was a minor incident and was being unnecessarily blown up by the petitioner.
The petitioner's counsels submitted that the incident could not be termed as part of the Assembly proceedings.
It was an incident of assault and as such a criminal offence, they claimed.