Calcutta HC quashes eviction notice to Abhishek Banerjee's Kolkata office
Synopsis
The Calcutta High Court has quashed the West Bengal Fire Services Department's eviction notice against Abhishek Banerjee's Camac Street office, ordering a structured compliance process instead. The ruling closes the immediate legal threat but keeps pressure on TMC to meet fire safety norms — all unfolding against a backdrop of the billboard scuffle and three pending FIRs.
Key Takeaways
Justice Krishna Rao of the Calcutta High Court quashed the West Bengal Fire Services Department 's eviction notice on 16 September 2026 .
The notice targeted the Camac Street office of TMC general secretary and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee .
The court ordered fire services to first issue an advance inspection notice and communicate required fire safety measures before taking any action.
TMC must comply with those safety guidelines; non-compliance will allow the department to act under law.
The controversy stems from last month's removal of an allegedly illegal billboard, which led to scuffles and three FIRs naming Banerjee , Derek O'Brien , Humayun Kabir , and Baishwanar Chatterjee .
A single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday, 16 September 2026, quashed the eviction notice issued by the West Bengal Fire Services Department to the Camac Street office of All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) general secretary and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee, located in Central Kolkata. The ruling by Justice Krishna Rao brings to a close the immediate legal threat to the office, even as it sets out a structured compliance framework for fire safety.
What the Court Ordered
Justice Krishna Rao directed the state fire services department to first issue an advance notice to Trinamool Congress specifying the date of inspection of the Camac Street office before any further action. The department must also formally communicate the fire safety measures required to be adopted at the premises.
Once those guidelines are conveyed, Trinamool Congress will be required to take necessary steps for safety and security in line with the prescribed norms. Only if the party fails to comply with those guidelines will the fire services department be permitted to take appropriate action under the law, the court ruled.
Background: Billboard Row That Sparked the Controversy
The current legal proceedings have their roots in a controversy that erupted last month when Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) staff and police removed an allegedly illegal billboard from the roof of the building housing Abhishek Banerjee's office. The removal triggered scuffles involving TMC workers led by Banerjee, Rajya Sabha member Derek O'Brien, and party leaders Humayun Kabir and Baishwanar Chatterjee.
Three FIRs were subsequently registered at the Shakespeare Sarani Police Station, naming Banerjee, O'Brien, Kabir, and Chatterjee. Shortly after, fire services officials conducted a fire safety audit of the Camac Street office and served the eviction notice that has now been quashed.
Earlier Interim Relief and Wednesday's Final Order
The Calcutta High Court had previously granted an interim stay on the fire services eviction notice, providing temporary relief to the TMC office. The matter came up for final hearing on Wednesday, at the conclusion of which Justice Rao passed the order quashing the notice entirely, replacing it with a process-driven compliance mechanism.
Notably, this sequence — an audit followed swiftly by an eviction notice, arriving in the immediate aftermath of a political flashpoint — drew criticism from TMC leaders, who alleged the fire services action was politically motivated. The state fire services department had not publicly responded to those allegations at the time of the hearing.
What Happens Next
With the eviction notice quashed, the West Bengal Fire Services Department must now follow the court-mandated process: issue an advance notice of inspection, communicate specific compliance requirements, and allow the TMC office time to act on them before initiating any further proceedings. The ruling effectively converts what was an eviction order into a structured fire-safety compliance exercise under judicial oversight.
Point of View
Without first mandating a compliance window, was always going to face scrutiny. The court has essentially said: enforce the law, but follow the process. What remains unresolved is the trio of FIRs against senior TMC leaders, which carry independent legal weight regardless of the fire services outcome. The billboard row is a microcosm of a broader pattern in West Bengal politics where civic enforcement and political contestation remain difficult to disentangle.
NationPress
16 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the Calcutta High Court rule about Abhishek Banerjee's Kolkata office?
The Calcutta High Court quashed the West Bengal Fire Services Department's eviction notice against Abhishek Banerjee's Camac Street office in Kolkata on 16 September 2026. Justice Krishna Rao directed the department to first issue an advance inspection notice and communicate required fire safety measures before initiating any further action.
Why was the eviction notice issued to Abhishek Banerjee's office?
The West Bengal Fire Services Department issued the eviction notice after conducting a fire safety audit of the Camac Street office. The audit followed a controversy in which KMC staff and police removed an allegedly illegal billboard from the building's roof, triggering scuffles involving TMC leaders.
Who else was named in the FIRs related to the billboard incident?
Three FIRs were registered at Shakespeare Sarani Police Station naming Abhishek Banerjee, Rajya Sabha member Derek O'Brien, and TMC leaders Humayun Kabir and Baishwanar Chatterjee in connection with scuffles during the billboard removal.
What process must the fire services department now follow?
As per the court order, the department must first serve an advance notice specifying the date of inspection, then formally communicate the fire safety measures required. Trinamool Congress must then act on those guidelines; only if it fails to comply can the department proceed with legal action.
What was the earlier legal status of the eviction notice?
The Calcutta High Court had previously granted an interim stay on the eviction notice, providing temporary relief to the TMC office. Wednesday's hearing resulted in the notice being quashed entirely and replaced with a court-supervised compliance framework.
