Calcutta HC issues contempt notices to Mamata, Abhishek Banerjee over 2025 rally
Synopsis
The Calcutta High Court has served contempt notices on Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee — the two most powerful figures in the TMC — over the party's 2025 Martyrs' Day rally allegedly blocking Kolkata's Esplanade junction in defiance of a court order dating back to 2018. With the next hearing on 3 July, the case puts the TMC's flagship annual event under direct judicial scrutiny.
Key Takeaways
The Calcutta High Court served contempt notices on Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee on 19 June .
The notices relate to the TMC Martyrs' Day rally held on 21 July 2025 in central Kolkata .
The rally allegedly violated a 2018 High Court order prohibiting political parties from blocking major road junctions.
The petition claims the Esplanade junction was completely blocked, disrupting traffic and emergency services.
The case will be heard next on 3 July by a division bench headed by Justice Arijit Banerjee .
The Calcutta High Court on Friday, 19 June served contempt of court notices to former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee, the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) general secretary and Lok Sabha member, in connection with the party's annual Martyrs' Day rally held on 21 July 2025 in central Kolkata. The rally allegedly violated a 2018 Calcutta High Court order barring political parties from blocking major road junctions in the city.
What Triggered the Contempt Action
A fresh contempt petition was filed before a division bench of the Calcutta High Court headed by Justice Arijit Banerjee, alleging that the TMC's Martyrs' Day rally on 21 July 2025 completely blocked a key junction at Esplanade in central Kolkata, causing severe inconvenience to residents, commuters, and emergency services. Following a preliminary hearing on Friday, the bench directed that notices be formally served on both leaders. The next hearing is scheduled for 3 July.
The 2018 Court Order and Its Provisions
The original ruling, delivered by a division bench comprising Justice Jyotirmoy Bhattacharya and Justice Arijit Banerjee in 2018, laid down clear conditions for political gatherings in Kolkata. No political rally was permitted to obstruct any main or important road junction. A portion of the road was required to remain open at all times for pedestrians and vehicles, and ambulances and other emergency services were to be guaranteed unimpeded passage. Where necessary, authorities were directed to arrange alternative diversions.
The 2018 order further required police to notify the public in advance through media channels about traffic diversion plans. It also warned of legal action in cases of vandalism, noise violations, or violence during political meetings.
What the Petition Alleges
According to the contempt petition, the TMC's Martyrs' Day rally on 21 July 2025 disregarded these provisions entirely. The petitioners claimed the Esplanade junction — one of central Kolkata's busiest intersections — was completely blocked, with no alternative arrangements made for diverted traffic or emergency movement. The court's preliminary hearing accepted these submissions as sufficient grounds to issue notices to both Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee.
What Happens Next
The matter will come up before the Calcutta High Court division bench again on 3 July, when both recipients of the contempt notices are expected to respond. The outcome could have significant political implications for the TMC, which has held the Martyrs' Day rally as a flagship annual event for decades. Legal observers note this is among the more direct judicial interventions targeting the party's top leadership in recent years.
Point of View
Yet this is apparently the first time it has been invoked to this level of consequence, which raises a question about selective or delayed enforcement. More broadly, the case tests whether India's judiciary can enforce civic order against entrenched political machines, or whether such orders remain aspirational. If the court proceeds to conviction, it would mark an unprecedented legal setback for the TMC's top brass; if the matter is settled quietly, it reinforces the perception that political rallies operate in a parallel legal universe.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Calcutta High Court issue contempt notices to Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee?
The court issued contempt notices because the TMC's Martyrs' Day rally on 21 July 2025 allegedly violated a 2018 Calcutta High Court order that prohibited political parties from blocking major road junctions in Kolkata. A petition claimed the Esplanade junction was completely obstructed during the rally.
What does the 2018 Calcutta High Court order say about political rallies?
The 2018 order bars political parties from blocking any main or important road junction in Kolkata during rallies. It mandates that a portion of the road remain open for pedestrians and vehicles, guarantees free movement for ambulances and emergency services, and requires police to publicise traffic diversion plans in advance.
When is the next hearing in the contempt case?
The next hearing is scheduled for 3 July before the Calcutta High Court division bench headed by Justice Arijit Banerjee. Both Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee are expected to respond to the notices by then.
Who is Abhishek Banerjee and why is he named in the case?
Abhishek Banerjee is the TMC's general secretary and a Lok Sabha member, as well as the nephew of former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. He is named in the contempt petition alongside Mamata Banerjee in connection with the party's Martyrs' Day rally.
What is the TMC Martyrs' Day rally?
The Martyrs' Day rally, held annually on 21 July, is the TMC's flagship political event commemorating party workers who died in a 1993 police firing in Kolkata. It draws large crowds and is typically held in central Kolkata, making traffic management a recurring civic concern.
