Calcutta HC to hear Abhishek Banerjee's overseas eye treatment plea today
Synopsis
The Calcutta High Court is set to hear TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee's plea for overseas eye treatment on Wednesday — a case that has already bounced from the High Court to the Supreme Court and back, with a seven-day deadline now hanging over the bench. The hearing also runs parallel to a separate hate speech case in which Banerjee holds interim protection from arrest until October.
Key Takeaways
Justice Sougata Bhattacharya of the Calcutta High Court will hear Abhishek Banerjee's overseas eye treatment plea at 11 am IST on Wednesday .
The Supreme Court last week referred the matter back to the High Court with a directive to decide within seven days .
The High Court had earlier rejected Banerjee's plea and directed him to consult specialists at S.S.K.M.
Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata .
Banerjee's eye injury originated in a road accident in October 2016 during a trip from Murshidabad to Kolkata .
In a parallel case, Banerjee holds interim protection from arrest in a hate speech case until October , with the CID directed to wrap up its probe promptly.
The Calcutta High Court's single-judge bench of Justice Sougata Bhattacharya is scheduled to hear on Wednesday the petition filed by Abhishek Banerjee, All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) general secretary and Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha member, seeking permission to travel abroad for ophthalmic treatment. The hearing has been fixed for 11 am IST, following a directive from the Supreme Court to resolve the matter within seven days.
Background: Earlier Rejection and SSKM Referral
Last month, the same bench had rejected Banerjee's initial plea for overseas travel, instead directing him to first consult specialists at the state-run S.S.K.M. Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. Justice Bhattacharya had made clear that any further decision would depend on the medical report from S.S.K.M. During the 20 July hearing, the court had also queried whether Banerjee had consulted any ophthalmology specialist before approaching the court.
Supreme Court Steps In, Refers Matter Back
Following the High Court's refusal, Banerjee approached the Supreme Court seeking the same permission. A three-judge division bench comprising Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice Venkita Subramani Mohan last week referred the matter back to the Calcutta High Court, directing it to take a decision within seven days. The apex court's referral effectively put the clock back on Justice Bhattacharya's bench to act swiftly.
Hate Speech Case and Interim Protection
The overseas travel plea is unfolding alongside a separate legal matter. On 20 July, Justice Bhattacharya extended until October the interim protection granted to Banerjee from coercive police action — including arrest — in a hate speech case. Banerjee had been accused of making violence-inciting statements and of threatening Union Home Minister Amit Shah at a campaign rally ahead of the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly polls. The court simultaneously directed Banerjee to cooperate with the police investigation and instructed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to conclude its probe at the earliest.
The Eye Injury: A 2016 Accident
The medical issue at the centre of this legal dispute dates to October 2016, when Banerjee was involved in a road accident while returning to Kolkata from a party programme in Murshidabad district. He sustained serious injuries to his eye in that accident. He has since sought treatment at multiple hospitals within India and has previously travelled abroad for further care.
What Happens Next
Wednesday's hearing will be closely watched, given the Supreme Court's seven-day deadline. The outcome will determine whether Banerjee receives judicial clearance for overseas ophthalmic treatment or faces further conditions — including a mandatory review at S.S.K.M. — before any travel permission is granted.
Point of View
A criminal investigation on the other. The Supreme Court's referral, rather than a direct ruling, places the pressure squarely on Justice Bhattacharya's bench within a tight seven-day window. What is notable is that the court's earlier insistence on an S.S.K.M. review has not been formally superseded — raising the question of whether Wednesday's hearing resolves the matter or adds another procedural layer. The simultaneity of the hate speech case and the travel plea, both before the same bench, makes the outcome politically consequential well beyond its medical framing.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Calcutta High Court hearing Abhishek Banerjee's plea again?
The Supreme Court last week referred Banerjee's overseas eye treatment plea back to the Calcutta High Court with a directive to decide within seven days. The High Court had earlier rejected the plea and asked Banerjee to first consult specialists at S.S.K.M. Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.
What is Abhishek Banerjee's eye condition linked to?
Banerjee's eye injury dates to October 2016, when he was involved in a road accident while returning to Kolkata from a party event in Murshidabad district. He has since undergone treatment at hospitals in India and has previously sought care abroad.
What did the Supreme Court say about Banerjee's travel plea?
A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court, comprising the Chief Justice of India and two other judges, declined to rule directly and instead referred the matter back to the Calcutta High Court, directing it to take a decision within seven days.
What is the hate speech case against Abhishek Banerjee?
Banerjee has been accused of making violence-inciting statements and threatening Union Home Minister Amit Shah at a campaign rally ahead of the West Bengal Assembly polls. The Calcutta High Court extended his interim protection from arrest in this case until October and directed the CID to complete its probe at the earliest.
What happens if the Calcutta High Court does not rule within seven days?
The Supreme Court set a seven-day deadline for the Calcutta High Court to decide on Banerjee's overseas travel plea. If the court does not rule within that window, the matter could potentially be taken back to the Supreme Court for further directions.
