The Calcutta High Court directed BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari’s lawyer to propose an alternative location for staging a demonstration on alleged post-poll violence in West Bengal, originally planned outside Raj Bhavan.
Adhikari’s counsel sought permission to hold the dharna at Raj Bhavan, which the state argued is covered by prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC. The lawyer mentioned that the ruling party had conducted a sit-in there for five days in October 2023.
Justice Amrita Sinha instructed the petitioner’s lawyer to suggest a different venue by the next hearing on June 21.
The court also asked West Bengal’s Advocate General to ascertain if any action had been taken against those who allegedly violated prohibitory orders during last year’s demonstration at Raj Bhavan.
Administrative Denial
Suvendu Adhikari‘s lawyer, Billwadal Bhattacharya, stated that their request to Kolkata Police for permission to hold a dharna outside Raj Bhavan from Wednesday afternoon in protest against alleged post-poll violence targeting opposition party workers was denied for administrative reasons.
When questioned by the judge why Raj Bhavan was chosen over other locations, Bhattacharya explained that it was to symbolize unwavering faith in the Constitution despite purported atrocities against opposition members.
The court acknowledged that the police had proposed Y-channel near Raj Bhavan as an alternative site for the demonstration.
Advocate General Kishore Dutta, representing the West Bengal government, reiterated that Raj Bhavan falls under prohibitory orders prohibiting gatherings of five or more people under Section 144 of the CrPC.
Trinamool Congress Sit-In and Contradictions
The ruling Trinamool Congress, led by party’s national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, had staged a sit-in outside Raj Bhavan protesting the alleged withholding of West Bengal’s MGNREGA dues by the Centre. Bhattacharya argued that similar prohibitory orders were disregarded during that dharna.
