Calcutta HC Issues Notices to Mamata, Abhishek Regarding Martyrs' Day Rally Contempt Plea

The Calcutta High Court has formally ordered that notices be issued to Trinamool Congress (TMC) chairperson Mamata Banerjee and the party's national general secretary, Abhishek Banerjee. This legal development follows a contempt petition filed in relation to the alleged violation of a judicial directive regarding the management of public thoroughfares during the Martyrs' Day rally held last year. The court is examining claims that the event resulted in the total obstruction of arterial roads, contrary to established legal protocols.

Representing the petitioner, lawyer Srikanta Dutta brought the matter before a division bench presided over by Justice Arijit Banerjee. The core of the legal challenge rests on an earlier order issued by the high court in 2018. That directive explicitly mandated that any gatherings held on public thoroughfares must ensure that a passage remains open to facilitate the movement of pedestrians and emergency service vehicles. The petitioner alleges that these safety measures were disregarded during the 2025 Martyrs' Day rally, leading to significant road blockages in the Esplanade area, a vital junction in the heart of Kolkata.

Legal Proceedings Regarding Martyrs' Day Rally Obstructions

In addition to Justice Arijit Banerjee, the division bench overseeing this case includes Justice Apurba Sinha Ray. The bench has directed that formal notices be served to both Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee, requiring their attention to the allegations presented in the contempt plea. The court has scheduled the matter for a further hearing on July 3. This legal scrutiny centers on whether the planning and execution of the political rally failed to comply with the high court's specific instructions intended to balance public assembly rights with the necessity of maintaining operational traffic flow.

The Martyrs' Day rally is an annual event that carries significant historical weight for the party. The observance originates from events on July 21, 1993, when 13 Youth Congress workers lost their lives during police firing at Esplanade. At that time, the rally was organized under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee during the Left Front regime. Following the formation of the Trinamool Congress in the late 1990s, the party adopted the annual commemoration. Since then, it has grown into a massive political gathering held at Dharmatala each year, drawing large crowds to the center of the city. The current legal dispute highlights the ongoing tensions between organizing large-scale public demonstrations and ensuring that essential city infrastructure remains accessible to the general public during such events.