Calcutta HC restrains TMC from holding gherao at homes of BJP leaders on August 5

The lawyer appearing for Abhishek told the High Court that the gherao will be symbolic and would have been held 100 metres away from the homes of the BJP leaders.

While hearing a petition filed by BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari alleging that TMC's proposed 'gherao' was in contradiction to the fundamental rights of people, the Division Bench of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya ordered all respondents to refrain from any protest that could cause inconvenience to the general public.

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In a setback to the ruling TMC, the Calcutta High Court on Monday restrained the party from holding its August 5 protest in which it has planned to gherao the residences of BJP leaders across the state over alleged non-payment of dues to the state government by the Centre.

While hearing a petition filed by BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari alleging that TMC’s proposed ‘gherao’ was in contradiction to the fundamental rights of people, the Division Bench of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya ordered all respondents to refrain from any protest that could cause inconvenience to the general public.

Passing the interim order, the court also directed all the parties to file their affidavits within the next 10 days. The matter will be heard again after two weeks.

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Surjyaneel Das, one of the lawyers representing Adhikari, said, “The Division bench expressed his displeasure at the call for gherao of BJP leaders’ residences. The court has issued a stay on this and asked the ruling party to restrain from holding such programmes. The chief justice said that such kind of programmes cause inconvenience to the general public. He mentioned how on July 21 (the Martyrs’ Day rally), the court proceedings were stopped at 11.30 am as court staff and lawyers could not attend the hearing due to the large gathering in the city. That’s why the court asked the ruling party not to go ahead with the gherao on August 5.”

The lawyer appearing for Abhishek told the High Court that the gherao will be symbolic and would have been held 100 metres away from the homes of the BJP leaders.

On July 21, TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee called for a peaceful sit-in outside houses of BJP leaders across the state to protest against the Centre’s refusal to clear pending funds for the state.

Adhikari, meanwhile, welcomed the High Court’s order and said, “They (Abhishek Banerjee and Mamata Banerjee) arrogantly gave a call to gherao the houses of BJP leaders. I have elderly parents at my home. This programme would have caused inconvenience to them… The court has taken a strong stand against this and ordered an injunction.”

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The TMC, meanwhile, said that the protest will be held in every block on August 5, but not outside the homes of BJP leaders. “Our party supremo Mamata Banerjee has already clarified that such programmes will be held 100 metres away from the houses of BJP leaders in a peaceful manner… Our programmes will be held in every block on August 5 and without causing inconvenience to anyone and by adhering to our party disciplines,” said senior party leader Tapas Roy.

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