Case filed against Mamata Banerjee over violation of Calcutta high court order - The Times of India

**Case Filed Against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for Alleged Breach of Calcutta High Court Order**

Kolkata – A First Information Report (FIR) was lodged on Thursday against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for allegedly contravening a Calcutta High Court directive that barred any public gathering by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) student wing on the occasion of its foundation‑day celebrations. The police complaint, filed by a private citizen citing the court order dated 15 April 2024, claims that the rally held on 26 April at the university campus ignored the High Court’s stay on “any political assembly that could disrupt public order.” The FIR, registered under sections pertaining to contempt of court and violation of pandemic‑related public‑health guidelines, accuses the chief minister of “directly overseeing” the event despite explicit judicial instructions.

The TMC, however, disputes the allegations, arguing that the gathering was a “cultural and educational program” exempt from the stay and that necessary permissions were secured from the local police. Party spokesperson Partha Chakraborty told reporters that the event complied with all statutory requirements and that the FIR is an attempt to “politicise the judiciary” ahead of the upcoming municipal elections. Opposition parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), welcomed the filing, calling it evidence of the chief minister’s “flagrant disregard for rule of law.” Legal analysts note that the High Court’s order was issued in response to earlier concerns about crowd‑size limits and potential COVID‑19 transmission, and that any breach could attract contempt proceedings, though conviction is rare in politically sensitive cases.

The matter is slated for a hearing in the Calcutta High Court within the next two weeks, where the prosecution will present evidence of the chief minister’s involvement and the defence will likely contest the legal characterization of the event. If the court finds Banerjee guilty of contempt, she could face a fine or a brief period of incarceration, though such penalties are typically symbolic in high‑profile cases. Observers say the outcome could set a precedent for how political leaders are held accountable for court orders, especially in a climate where judicial interventions in electoral politics have become increasingly common. The case also arrives at a time when the state government is grappling with other legal challenges, including a separate Supreme Court docket on ethanol‑labelling mandates for petrol.