The Supreme Court has refused an urgent listing of a plea filed by Trinamool Congress Member of Parliament Mahua Moitra, who alleged that local administration officials in West Bengal’s Nadia district forcibly evicted her late at night from a state government property.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohana declined to grant an expedited hearing on the matter on Monday. Moitra’s counsel requested an early date, citing significant constitutional issues and arguing that an independent investigation was necessary. Her lawyer further informed the court that a protective order had previously been issued by the high court regarding the matter.
Allegations Against District Authorities
The dispute stems from an incident in Moitra’s constituency of Krishnanagar on the night of August 14. The lawmaker had checked into the state-owned circuit house for an overnight stay following a session of Parliament. Moitra stated that as a Member of Parliament, she was entitled to stay at the facility.
According to the lawmaker, district authorities pressured her to leave the premises in the middle of the night in an intentional effort to harass her. She stated that no administration official had notified her of any booking embargo or restriction either at the time of reservation or when she checked into the room.
Security Concerns And Complaint To Speaker
Moitra alleged that after she refused to vacate her room, a large crowd gathered outside the circuit house and shouted slogans. She raised safety concerns regarding the demonstration, pointing out that the circuit house is situated directly opposite the official residences of both the district magistrate and the district superintendent of police in what should be a secure zone.
Following the incident, the Krishnanagar MP wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking parliamentary intervention over the district administration’s conduct. She had also signaled plans to initiate legal action over the alleged harassment prior to approaching the Supreme Court.
