Kolkata, Dec 1 (NationPress) A public interest litigation (PIL) was submitted to the Calcutta High Court on Monday, targeting West Bengal minister Sovandeb Chattopadhyay for alleged conflict of interest. The PIL asserts that even though Chattopadhyay serves as a state minister, he concurrently holds the position of president of an employee organization affiliated with a private power firm.

The petitioner voiced concerns, indicating that this scenario might result in a conflict of interest.

The case was presented before a division bench of the Calcutta High Court, which includes Acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Partha Sarathi Sen. The PIL has been accepted, and a hearing is anticipated to occur on Tuesday.

The petitioner contended that regulations prohibit any minister, whether at the Centre or state level, from assuming a leadership role in a union or employee organization.

Allegedly, in contravention of these regulations, Sovandeb Chattopadhyay — representing the Trinamool Congress as the MLA from Khardah and serving as the state’s Parliamentary Affairs Minister — maintains his role as president of an employee organization linked to a private power company.

Despite informing the state administration multiple times about this issue, no action has been taken, prompting the petitioner to escalate the matter to the court.

No official comment has been made by Sovandeb Chattopadhyay regarding the allegations.

However, sources within the ruling Trinamool Congress have indicated that Chattopadhyay has resigned from most employee organizations as per directives from the party’s top leadership, suggesting his name might still be listed as president of some organizations due to an oversight.

“He has resigned from the majority of trade unions and employee associations. Any remaining association with these organizations is likely a mistake. Given the court's involvement, the state minister will certainly address this matter through the legal system,” shared a Trinamool Congress insider.

A prominent Trinamool Congress leader, Sovandeb Chattopadhyay has been a close ally of Mamata Banerjee since the mid-1980s, during her tenure in Congress and her early confrontations with the CPI-M.

As one of the founding members of the Trinamool Congress established in 1998, he is recognized as one of its earliest elected representatives.

Over the years, Chattopadhyay has established himself as a key organizational figure within the party, having been elected multiple times to the West Bengal Assembly.