Calcutta High Court Issues Stay on Demolition of Building Housing Abhishek Banerjee’s Office

The Calcutta High Court has intervened in a contentious demolition case involving a building in Amtala, South 24 Parganas, which serves as the office for Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee. On Sunday, the court ordered the West Bengal government to cease all demolition activities related to the structure until the case is further deliberated, or until the end of July, whichever comes first.

This judicial directive came as a response to ongoing actions by district authorities who had begun demolishing parts of the building, citing violations of municipal construction laws. The situation escalated over the weekend as the district administration proceeded with the demolition after issuing a notice on June 30, prompting the building’s owners, Leaps and Bounds Private Limited, to seek immediate legal intervention.

During the court proceedings, lawyer Kishore Datta, representing Leaps and Bounds, contended that the company had not been provided a copy of the complaint that allegedly justified the demolition order. He emphasized that the lack of communication undermined the fairness of the proceedings against them. Meanwhile, Advocate General Surojit Nath Mitra, who represented the West Bengal government, argued that the petitioner did not sufficiently demonstrate that the construction was authorized under existing regulations. The court’s ruling underscores concerns about procedural fairness and the rights of property owners.

Justice Raja Basu Chowdhury, presiding over the case, remarked on the potential inadequacies in the notification process, suggesting that the building’s owners might not have been granted proper opportunity to respond to the allegations made against them. This issue raises broader questions about the governance of property rights and the manner in which demolition orders are executed in West Bengal.

The ruling not only protects the building temporarily but also highlights the ongoing tensions between the state government and opposition parties, particularly as Abhishek Banerjee is a prominent figure within the Trinamool Congress. This incident is likely to resonate politically, considering the backdrop of the upcoming elections and the scrutiny of government actions related to property disputes. The outcome of further hearings could set important precedents for similar cases in the future.

Source: scroll.in