Judiciary – Mamata Banerjee Raises Post-Poll Violence Concerns Before High Court
Judiciary – Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday appeared before a division bench of the Calcutta High Court and urged the judiciary to step in over allegations of violence following the recently concluded Assembly election results announced on May 4.
Banerjee claimed that several incidents of intimidation and attacks had surfaced from different districts across the state in the aftermath of the elections. While presenting her submissions before the bench headed by Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Partha Sarathi Sen, she alleged that women, children, and members of minority communities were among those facing threats and harassment.
Allegations of Violence Raised in Court
During the hearing linked to a public interest litigation concerning post-poll disturbances, Banerjee said the situation in parts of the state had become deeply troubling. According to her arguments, reports of looting, vandalism, and threats against families were emerging from multiple regions.
She further stated that many victims were allegedly not receiving adequate support from local law enforcement authorities. Banerjee requested the court to intervene and protect citizens affected by the unrest.
Addressing the bench, she said she was prepared to submit additional details through a supplementary affidavit if permitted by the court. She also emphasized that West Bengal should not be associated with a culture of fear or violence and appealed for urgent judicial attention to the matter.
Mamata Banerjee Appears as Counsel
The hearing also marked a notable personal moment for Banerjee, who reminded the court that this was her first appearance in the Calcutta High Court in the role of an advocate. She informed the bench that she had enrolled as a legal practitioner in 1995 and had continued renewing her registration over the years.
Her participation in the proceedings attracted significant political and public attention, particularly because of her direct involvement in arguing the matter before the court instead of leaving it entirely to legal representatives.
State Government Rejects Claims
Responding to the allegations, state government counsel Dhiraj Trivedi opposed the submissions and questioned the basis of the claims presented before the bench.
Trivedi argued that the petition lacked detailed examples and concrete documentation regarding the alleged incidents of violence. He stated that although references had been made to thousands of complaints, the petition did not identify individual complainants or specify exact occurrences.
The state counsel also referred to earlier judicial proceedings related to post-poll violence in 2021, noting that those matters had previously been examined by a larger bench of the High Court. He argued that issuing any interim direction without detailed evidence would not be appropriate at this stage.
Political Reactions Surface Online
Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress highlighted Banerjee’s courtroom appearance through a statement shared on social media. The party praised her decision to personally participate in the legal proceedings and described it as a reflection of her commitment to constitutional values and public welfare.
In its message, the ruling party accused the opposition BJP of being responsible for unrest in the state after the election results. The statement further claimed that Banerjee continued to stand firmly against political hostility and injustice.
The exchange has once again brought the issue of political violence in West Bengal into national focus, with legal and political debates expected to continue in the coming days as the matter proceeds before the court.