Calcutta HC seeks Kolkata Police response over Martyrs' Day stage vandalism
Synopsis
The Calcutta High Court admitted a TMC petition alleging BJP-linked vandalism of the Martyrs' Day rally stage in Kolkata — a stage the same court had authorised just last week. With Kolkata Police summoned for an explanation and Mamata Banerjee threatening a contempt petition, a political flashpoint has rapidly become a judicial one.
Key Takeaways
Calcutta High Court admitted a TMC petition on 21 July alleging vandalism of the Martyrs' Day rally stage near Birla Planetarium , Kolkata.
Justice Sougata Bhattacharya directed Kolkata Police to submit an explanation by Tuesday afternoon.
The TMC faction alleged BJP activists carried out the vandalism on Monday night with alleged police complicity.
The petition argued the vandalism constituted 'contempt of court' as the rally had been court-permitted the previous week.
Mamata Banerjee warned of a formal contempt petition against the state government and police administration.
Martyrs' Day marks the killing of 13 Youth Congress workers in police firing on 21 July 1993 under the Left Front government.
The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday, 21 July admitted a petition filed by the Mamata Banerjee-led faction of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) alleging vandalism of the stage set up for the party's Martyrs' Day rally near Birla Planetarium in central Kolkata. Justice Sougata Bhattacharya of a single-judge bench directed Kolkata Police to submit an explanation by afternoon, after which the matter would be heard again.
What the Petition Alleged
The TMC faction claimed that the stage was vandalised on Monday night, allegedly by activists of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with what the petition described as clandestine 'assistance from the police administration'. The petition further contended that the act amounted to 'contempt of court', given that the rally had been expressly permitted by the same bench the previous week — with the state's advocate general present in court at the time.
Prior to moving the court formally, the Mamata Banerjee faction had sent an email to the office of Acting Chief Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty raising the same grievances about the alleged overnight vandalism.
Court's Sharp Reaction
Justice Bhattacharya expressed visible shock at the developments, questioning how such incidents could occur when the court had already granted permission for the rally. He reminded those present that the joint commissioner of Kolkata Police had been specifically directed in court to ensure law and order around the event. The judge observed that, against the backdrop of such clear judicial orders, the developments amounted to an embarrassment for the court.
What Mamata Banerjee Said
Earlier on Tuesday morning, former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee herself announced that her faction would approach the Calcutta High Court. 'The police administration is resorting to contempt of court by trying to disrupt our rally. Do not play with the law of the land. If you continue to do that, we will file a contempt of court petition against the state government and the police administration,' Banerjee said.
The Significance of July 21
Martyrs' Day on 21 July commemorates 13 Youth Congress workers who were killed in police firing during a protest rally on this date in 1993, when the Left Front government was in power under the late Chief Minister Jyoti Basu. The day holds deep political significance for the TMC and has historically been marked by a large annual rally. This year, three parallel rallies were scheduled in connection with the occasion, reflecting the factional tensions within the party.
What Happens Next
Kolkata Police was required to place its response before Justice Bhattacharya by Tuesday afternoon, after which the bench was set to resume hearing the matter. The court's intervention adds a judicial dimension to what is already a politically charged confrontation ahead of the day's rallies. Whether a formal contempt petition follows will depend on the police's explanation and the court's assessment of it.
Point of View
Where the party holds a procedural advantage. But the deeper story is the fragmentation of Martyrs' Day itself — three parallel rallies on a date that was once the TMC's most unified show of strength is a measure of how far internal fault lines have widened. Kolkata Police's explanation this afternoon will be closely watched; if the court finds it inadequate, the fallout could extend well beyond Tuesday's rallies.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Calcutta High Court intervene in the Martyrs' Day rally dispute?
The court intervened after the TMC faction filed a petition alleging that the stage for its Martyrs' Day rally near Birla Planetarium was vandalised on Monday night. Since the rally had been explicitly permitted by the same bench the previous week, the petition argued the vandalism amounted to contempt of court.
What did Justice Sougata Bhattacharya order?
Justice Bhattacharya admitted the petition and directed Kolkata Police to submit an explanation by Tuesday afternoon, after which the bench would hear the matter again. He also expressed shock at the developments, noting they were an embarrassment for the court given its prior orders.
Who has the TMC faction blamed for the vandalism?
The TMC faction has alleged that BJP activists carried out the vandalism on Monday night with what the petition described as clandestine assistance from the police administration. These are allegations; no independent verification has been reported.
What is Martyrs' Day and why does it matter?
Martyrs' Day on 21 July commemorates 13 Youth Congress workers killed in police firing during a protest rally on this date in 1993, under the Left Front government of Chief Minister Jyoti Basu. The day is politically significant for the TMC and has historically been marked by a major annual rally in Kolkata.
What did Mamata Banerjee say about the vandalism?
Mamata Banerjee said her faction would approach the Calcutta High Court and warned that if disruptions continued, she would file a formal contempt of court petition against the state government and the police administration.
