Calcutta High Court Declines BJP's Suvendu Adhikari's Plea To Hold Protest Outside Raj Bhavan Over Post-Poll Violence In Bengal

The Calcutta High Court on Thursday declined a plea by Leader of Opposition and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari to hold a protest meeting outside Raj Bhavan over alleged instances of post-poll violence which have taken place in the state of West Bengal.

A single bench of Justice Amrita Sinha directed Adhikari's counsel to come up with alternative protest sites while rejecting their request to picket outside the Governor's residence. 

Adhikari's counsel submitted that the LoP wished to hold a four-day-long 'dharna' along with those affected by alleged post-poll violence in the aftermath of the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections outside the main gate of the Raj Bhavan. It was argued that the Kolkata Police authorities had declined permission for the same leading to the present writ petition.

Notably, Adhikari had also moved a public interest litigation highlighting alleged incidents of post-poll violence in West Bengal, leading to the High Court extending the stay of central forces in the state.

At the present hearing, Adhikari's counsel argued that the police had earlier allowed the ruling TMC government to hold a rally outside the Raj Bhavan gates and hence the law must be equally applied to all political parties. It was argued that the governor was the head of the State and thus the BJP had a right to hold a protest outside his house over the admitted occurrence of post-poll clashes in the State.

Upon hearing these arguments, the Court questioned, "In front of Raj Bhavan?  It is an important thoroughfare. Only because the TMC had held protest there? The road in front of Raj Bhavan should not be obstructed."

Advocate General for the State submitted that the application sent to the police asking for permission was untenable since the BJP was seeking to hold their protest at the same venue as the TMC did in the past and that the police had rejected their request due to administrative concerns. 

Upon hearing both sides, the Court asked Adhikari's counsel to finalise another venue for the dharna and inform the court tomorrow (Friday).