The Calcutta High Court on Friday directed former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee to file affidavits in a contempt case arising out of the party's Martyrs' Day rally held in Kolkata on July 21, 2025.
The direction was issued by a division bench of Justice Arijit Banerjee and Justice Apurba Sinha Roy while hearing a petition alleging that the Trinamool Congress had violated an earlier High Court order regulating political rallies in the city. The contempt proceedings stem from a notice issued by the same bench on 19 June, seeking responses from Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee over the alleged breach of court directions during the annual Martyrs' Day programme.
At Friday's hearing, the bench instructed all parties, including the two Trinamool leaders, to place their affidavits on record before the matter is taken up again. The case is expected to be heard in August after the exchange of affidavits.
The petition alleges that the 21 July rally was conducted in violation of a 2018 High Court judgment, which prohibited political parties from completely blocking major road junctions in Kolkata while holding public meetings or processions. According to the petitioner, the Esplanade junction in central Kolkata was entirely blocked during the rally, causing severe disruption to traffic and inconvenience to commuters.
The 2018 judgment had laid down detailed guidelines to minimise public inconvenience during political events. The court had observed that large political gatherings frequently led to widespread traffic congestion in Kolkata, adversely affecting commuters and obstructing emergency services such as ambulances. It had directed that no major or important road should be fully closed for political programmes and that a portion of the carriageway must always remain open for both pedestrians and vehicular traffic.
The bench had further instructed the authorities to ensure unhindered movement of ambulances and other emergency vehicles, make alternative traffic arrangements wherever necessary, and publicise diversion routes in advance. It had also directed that legal action be taken in cases involving vandalism, violence or excessive noise during political events.
The present petition contends that these directions were disregarded during the Trinamool Congress' Martyrs' Day rally last year, leading to the initiation of contempt proceedings.
During Friday's hearing, senior advocate Kalyan Banerjee informed the court that he would appear on behalf of Mamata Banerjee. The bench then sought to know who would represent Abhishek Banerjee. Kalyan Banerjee, however, did not give a direct response and appeared hesitant. Observing the situation, the court remarked, "Then we will have to issue a rule against him."
The development assumes significance as Kalyan Banerjee was recently removed from representing Abhishek Banerjee in the alleged forged signature case before the Assembly. Following that decision, the senior advocate had publicly stated that he would no longer appear on behalf of the Trinamool MP.
The matter will now be listed for further hearing after the affidavits are filed, with the next hearing likely to take place on 17 August.
