The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday barred West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee from making any defamatory statements against Governor C.V. Ananda Bose.
A defamation suit was filed by Bose against Banerjee, two newly-elected TMC MLAs Sayantika Banerjee and Reyat Hossain Sarkar and party leader Kunal Ghosh over ‘derogatory’ statements made against him at the Raj Bhavan.
He also prayed for an interim order restraining them from making any further comment in connection with alleged incidents at Raj Bhavan.
Justice Krishna Rao said in an interim order that the matter will be heard again on August 14.
A row had triggered over the venue of the swearing-in ceremony of two newly elected TMC MLAs last month, as they wanted to be taken oath in the assembly. The governor was in favour of holding the swearing-in ceremony in Raj Bhavan.
Justice Krishna Rao restrained Banerjee and the three others from "making any defamatory or incorrect statement against the plaintiff (Bose) by way of publication and on social platforms till August 14, 2024."
The court directed Banerjee and others to file their affidavit in opposition within two weeks and reply by Bose to these within one week thereafter.
Banerjee's counsel told the court on Monday that she stood by her statement as it involved public interest. Banerjee had said that women had expressed fear about visiting the Raj Bhavan in Kolkata.
Also, Banerjee's lawyer Sanjay Basu said in a statement that they would challenge the order in the higher bench.
"If at this stage, an interim order is not granted it would give the free hands to the defendants to continue making defamatory statements against the plaintiff and continue to tarnish the reputation of the plaintiff," Justice Rao observed in the order.
The governor being a Constitutional Authority "cannot meet the personal attacks being made by the defendants against him by taking the benefit of social media platforms.
"The defendants had the knowledge that the criminal complaint initiated against the plaintiff (Bose) is pending before the Court of law," the court observed.
(With PTI inputs)
