The Calcutta High Court has scheduled a July 15 hearing for a petition filed by the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress faction, which seeks a directive allowing its annual rally to proceed in central Kolkata.
The petition, submitted on July 10, asks the court to order police to permit the group’s July 21 Martyrs’ Day rally in front of Victoria House in the Esplanade area. The faction’s lawyer presented the matter to Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya on Monday to request an expedited scheduling, after which the court set the mid-week hearing date.
Legal Challenge to Police Prohibitions
In its court filing, the faction contests a prohibitory order implemented by the Kolkata Police under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which restricts public gatherings in the Esplanade area.
The petitioners state that they have already submitted an application to the police to hold the event at its traditional location outside Victoria House, but the request remains pending. The faction has historically held its commemorative Martyrs’ Day rally at this Esplanade site each year.
Internal Disputes and Rival Rally Claims
The legal battle occurs alongside an internal party division. A breakaway group of the Trinamool Congress has also announced plans to organize a Martyrs’ Day rally at the same Esplanade venue on July 21.
This dissident group is led by MLA Ritabrata Banerjee, who serves as the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly. The rival faction was established following the announcement of the West Bengal assembly election results on May 4.
