Calcutta HC Dismisses PIL Seeking Ban on Mamata Banerjee’s Speeches During Eid Celebrations

The Calcutta High Court on Monday rejected a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition seeking an order to West Bengal’s Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, directing her not to deliver “provocative hate speeches” during Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations.

A division bench comprising of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya deemed the petition as poorly researched and concluded that the requested relief was not viable.

“The very foundation of this petition is a newspaper report. The petitioner has not done any research except making a representation to the Chief Secretary. If at all, any sentiments are hurt, the petitioner has sufficient remedies under the Criminal Procedure Code(CrPC),” the bench remarked.

Nazia Elahi Khan, the chairperson of the Muslim Women Resistance Committee, moved a plea in the Calcutta High Court urging the Court to direct West Bengal’s Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee not to deliver “provocative hate speeches” during the annual Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations, as she has been doing since 2011.

Khan alleged that this year’s speech incited violence during the Ram Navami celebrations. The petitioner contended that Banerjee’s speeches at such gatherings were provocative and filled with hate. However, the bench expressed the opinion that the petitioner had not conducted adequate research before filing the plea and subsequently dismissed the petition.