Sept. 11: The state government today informed Calcutta High Court that it would not defend Trinamul councillor Pabitra Biswas in a contempt case filed against him and two others by 22 families that were evicted from Subhas Sarobar on Sunday.

Additional advocate general Abhratosh Majumdar conveyed the decision to Justice Ranjit Bag after he admitted a petition by the squatters, seeking contempt proceedings against the councillor of Ward 33, the officer-in-charge of Phoolbagan police station and the chief executive officer of the Calcutta Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA).

Supporters of councillor Biswas were allegedly involved in the eviction and assault on at least six law students who had reached the site armed with a court order not to remove the squatters.

Justice Bag asked the respondents to file affidavits within a week on why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against them.

"Adhering to the court's directive, we will file affidavits on behalf of the officer-in-charge of the local police station and the chief executive officer of the CMDA. But we will not file any such affidavit on behalf of the local councillor," additional advocate general Majumdar told the court.

Majumdar did not specify why the government had decided not to defend the councillor in the case.

Senior advocate Anindya Sundar Das, who is not associated with the case, said: "In cases that involve policy decisions, government lawyers do represent councillors. The additional advocate general refusing to do so is an exception."

Majumdar informed the court that the state government had selected a plot near Subhas Sarobar for the rehabilitation of the evicted squatters.

Councillor Biswas has been trying to remove the squatters as part of a beautification drive in the vicinity of Salt Lake stadium, which will be hosting 10 matches of the Fifa U-17 World Cup next month.

Justice Bag issued an interim order on August 24, staying the eviction for 21 days.