The Supreme Court on Monday requested the Calcutta High Court to hear within a week an application filed by Trinamool Congress Member of Parliament Abhishek Banerjee seeking permission to travel abroad for medical treatment.
A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohana issued the direction after learning that no date had been scheduled for the pending request. Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, representing Banerjee, informed the top court that the plea seeks a modification of existing High Court conditions so the lawmaker can undergo eye treatment overseas. Observing that the application remained pending without a assigned date, the apex court asked the High Court to look into the matter expeditiously.
Challenge To High Court Travel Restrictions
Banerjee, who serves as the national general secretary of the Trinamool Congress and represents the Diamond Harbour constituency, had approached the Supreme Court to challenge a July 20 order issued by a single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court.
In that ruling, Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya had extended Banerjee’s interim protection from coercive action until October 6 or until further orders. However, the High Court instructed him to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation and upheld a condition barring him from leaving the country without judicial permission. While the High Court indicated it would consider the modification plea in August, it did not set a specific date for the hearing.
Background Of Election Campaign Case
The underlying legal matter involves an FIR registered against Banerjee over alleged intimidatory remarks made against opposition party leaders and workers during a public rally on April 27, held ahead of the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections. Banerjee has petitioned the court to quash the complaint.
During previous proceedings, the High Court declined to grant immediate permission for foreign travel while the probe was active, noting the availability of reputed eye care facilities in Kolkata. The court had orally suggested that Banerjee be examined by the head of ophthalmology at the state-run SSKM Hospital to evaluate whether his condition could be managed locally.
