HC observation on Bishwajit murder

In the full text of its verdict on the Bishwajit Das murder case, the High Court offered an unflattering reflection on the current trends in student politics as well as the criminal justice system. The verdict lends credence to concerns expressed by independent analysts and academics about the state of affairs in both sectors, which the rich and the powerful want to use to their advantage, and the fact that they can get away with doing that makes us worry about their future.

The fact is, the political elites are using a section of the youth to extend their power and stifle opposition in the country's highest seats of learning. This stands in sharp contrast to the glorious history of student politics on this land, which ironically also provides the pretext for the continuation of what passes as student politics today. We fully agree with the court's observation that this cannot go on, and the responsibility to make sure that it does not, lies with the nation leaders, both in power and opposition, who should rid student politics of unethical influence and help the general students live their life unencumbered by any outside influence. 

The rich and the powerful, the court says, also enjoy a type of impunity and seek to compromise the integrity of the criminal justice system, meaning they can influence the outcome of an investigation in the event of a crime. No one should have that kind of influence. We think the criminal justice system should be purged of corruption and political influence so that the criminals can be held accountable for their action. The integrity of the justice system must at all times be upheld, no matter what the cost.