Calcutta High Court Stops Demolition of TMC Leader Abhishek Banerjee's Office
The Calcutta High Court on Monday ordered a stay on the demolition of the party office of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Abhishek Banerjee located in Amtala, South 24 Parganas district. The interim order came in response to a petition filed by Banerjee challenging the demolition notice issued by the local municipal authority.
Justice Sabyasachi Bhattacharya, presiding over the single bench, directed the authorities to maintain status quo until the next hearing, scheduled for next week. The court also issued notices to the state government and the municipality, seeking their responses on the matter.
The demolition notice, issued under the West Bengal Municipal Act, alleged that the structure violated building bylaws and was constructed on encroached land. Banerjee's legal team argued that the notice was arbitrary and politically motivated, given the upcoming panchayat elections in the state.
The High Court's intervention comes amid heightened political tensions in West Bengal, with the ruling TMC and opposition parties trading accusations of misuse of power. The court's decision has provided temporary relief to Banerjee, who is also the national general secretary of the TMC.
This is not the first time that a property linked to a political figure has faced demolition action in the state. Similar disputes have been observed in other districts, often leading to legal battles. The court has asked all parties to maintain peace and abide by the law until a final decision is reached.
