The Highlights:
The Supreme Court of India on 18 November 2024 dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking an inquiry into Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose‘s death. Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan emphasized that the judiciary was not a panacea for all maladies and underlined that it was not its job to run the country.
Background of the Petition
The petitioner, Pinak Pani Mohanty, who described himself as the district secretary of the Cuttack district of the World Human Rights Protection Organisation (India), submitted the PIL to seek a thorough probe into the circumstances of Netaji’s death. He contended that this mystery over the death of Bose still persists and requires a full-fledged inquiry into this matter.
Observations of Supreme Court
The Supreme Court showed displeasure over the way it expressed during the hearing as the petition contained “reckless and irresponsible allegations” against national leaders who are no more. The bench, while observing that the petitioner had not even spared Mahatma Gandhi of his allegations, questioned the bona fides of the petitioner. Justice Surya Kant observed, “Supreme Court har cheez ki dawa nahi hai. Sarkar ko chalana court ka kaam nahi hai” (The Supreme Court is not a remedy for everything. It is not the Court’s job to run the government).
History of Netaji’s Death
Officially, it was announced that Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, the great figure in India’s independence struggle, had died in a plane crash in Taiwan on August 18, 1945. But over the decades, various theories have emerged, challenging the official account and suggesting alternative scenarios regarding his fate. These speculations have led to multiple inquiries and commissions aimed at uncovering the truth.
Previous Inquiries and Findings
Several commissions were instituted to determine the circumstances surrounding the death of Netaji:
- Shah Nawaz Committee (1956): The committee concluded that it is Bose, in the 1945 plane crash.
- Khosla Commission (1970): This was a commission headed by Justice G.D. Khosla, who reaffirmed the Shah Nawaz Committee’s decision of back evidence for the plane crash theory.
- Mukherjee Commission (1999-2005): Presided by Justice M.K. Mukherjee, the Mukherjee Commission disagreed with the earlier judgment of the fact that Bose had not died in the air crash. The Government of India declined to accept the Mukherjee Commission’s report.
Government’s Stand
To all such queries and RTI applications, the Government of India replied that Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose indeed had died in the 1945 plane crash in Taiwan. The stand of the government reflects the findings of the Shah Nawaz Committee as well as the Khosla Commission. Since the Mukherjee Commission had drawn a different inference, the government did not alter its official stand.
Public Mood and Continuing Controversy
The mystery surrounding Netaji’s death still holds the public in awe. One belief is that the truth behind his death has yet to be published, hence the calls for further investigations. However, the latest rejections by the Supreme Court of the PIL, therefore, reflect judicial unwillingness to open such a case once more, highlighting the separation between the powers, which are defined through judicial rather than governance adjudication.
Conclusion
This is yet another landmark decision taken by the Supreme Court in dismissing the plea for inquiry into the death of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose that upholds the position of the judiciary on its role. As fascination with the mystery surrounding Netaji’s death continues to haunt many, the court has made it clear that it is not the appropriate forum to address these historical debates. The consistent stand taken by the government further solidifies the official narrative, leaving alternative theories to continue their existence in speculation.
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