Kolkata, June 19 (IANS) The Calcutta High Court on Friday served contempt of court notices to former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee, the Trinamool Congress’ general secretary and Lok Sabha member.  The notice pertains to the Trinamool Congress annual Martyrs’ Day rally in central Kolkata on July 21, 2025, which contravened the Calcutta High Court's 2018 order that prohibited political parties from obstructing any major or important road junctions in the city. Recently, a contempt of court petition challenging the Trinamool Congress annual Martyrs’ Day rally was filed before a Calcutta High Court division bench headed by Justice Arijit Banerjee.

A preliminary hearing in the matter was conducted on Friday, following which the division bench directed that contempt of court notices be served on both Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee. The next hearing in the matter will be on July 3. To recall, in 2018, the erstwhile Calcutta High Court’s division bench of Justice Jyotirmoy Bhattacharya and Justice Arijit Banerjee ruled that no political rally in the city should block any main and important junction.

The erstwhile division bench also ruled that a part of the road should always be kept open for pedestrians and vehicles. Ambulances and other emergency services must be ensured free movement, and if necessary, alternative roads must be arranged to divert vehicles, the erstwhile division bench ruled. The court in 2018 had also directed the police to inform the public in advance through the media about traffic diversion plans. In addition, the court said that legal action would be taken against the culprits if there is vandalism, noise or violence during the political meeting or political rally.

Recently, another petition was filed in the Calcutta High Court claiming that the 2018 court order was completely violated in the Trinamool Congress Martyrs’ Day rally on July 21 last year. In the petition, it was also claimed that the Martyrs’ Day rally by the previous ruling party was conducted by completely blocking an important junction at Esplanade in Central Kolkata, causing immense inconvenience to the public. The contempt of court notices were served on Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee in relation to the fresh petition.

--IANS