In a significant legal development, the Calcutta High Court has issued a restraining order against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, prohibiting her from making any defamatory or inaccurate statements about Governor CV Ananda Bose. This order comes in the wake of allegations of sexual harassment leveled against Bose, which have sparked considerable controversy and debate.
Justice Krishna Rao, presiding over the case, passed the order in response to a defamation suit filed by Governor Bose against Chief Minister Banerjee. The suit also named two MLAs from West Bengal and a leader from the Trinamool Congress, all accused of making derogatory remarks against the Governor.
The conflict intensified following comments by Mamata Banerjee suggesting that women felt unsafe entering the Raj Bhavan due to the ongoing allegations. These remarks led to a plea from Governor Bose seeking judicial intervention to halt the spread of what he described as defamatory statements.
In his ruling, Justice Rao emphasized the importance of safeguarding the reputation of constitutional authorities, stating, “In cases where the court finds that statements have been recklessly made to injure someone’s reputation, it is justified in granting an injunction.” He further noted that without an interim order, the defendants could continue to tarnish the plaintiff’s reputation with impunity.
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Consequently, the court has barred Banerjee and the other defendants from making any public or online statements against Governor Bose that could be deemed defamatory or inaccurate. This injunction is set to remain in effect until August 14, 2024.
Governor Bose argued in court that the allegations made by the Chief Minister and other Trinamool leaders were baseless and had damaged his reputation. In her defense, Chief Minister Banerjee maintained that her statements regarding the Raj Bhavan were not defamatory.
