Calcutta High Court Asks Trinamool MP Abhishek Banerjee to Submit List of Judges Linked to Political Parties

The Calcutta High Court told Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee on Thursday to give the court a list naming judges who back the Bharatiya Janata Party and those who support his own party. A bench of Justice Krishna Rao made this remark during a hearing on a petition filed by Banerjee.

The Security Petition

Banerjee, who serves as the Member of Parliament for Diamond Harbour, had approached the court to challenge the lowering of his police protection from Z-plus down to the X category after the political leadership changed in West Bengal. On November 7, while speaking at a public gathering on his birthday, the politician claimed that the court had only partly heard his plea and suggested that outside pressure caused delays. He specifically stated that the matter was listed before Justice Krishna Rao but did not move forward after the judge stopped hearing cases for the day.

Courtroom Arguments

During Thursday's proceedings, additional advocate general Billwadal Bhattacharya presented a video clip and a transcript of the MP's public speech to the bench. The state law officer read parts of the speech where Banerjee accused the judiciary of standing by as silent watchers and blamed pending court cases for ongoing violence in the state. Bhattacharya told the judges that these comments amounted to criminal contempt because they cast doubt on the integrity of the bench. Meanwhile, senior advocate Shoeb Alam, who represented Banerjee in the security case, argued that the political remarks had nothing to do with the pending petition.

Political Reactions

BJP spokesperson and lawyer Priyanka Tibrewal strongly criticized the statements, calling them shameful and arguing that nobody stands above the legal system. At the same time, Trinamool Congress leader and lawyer Baiswanor Chatterjee defended the public mood, noting that thousands of cases remain pending in courts and many citizens feel upset about delays in getting relief.

Context

Public disagreements between political leaders and the judiciary sometimes arise when high-profile cases face delays in the legal system. In India, criminal contempt charges can be brought against individuals if their public statements undermine the authority of courts or cast unfair aspersions on judges. Courts generally examine whether such remarks cross the line from fair criticism into interfering with the proper administration of justice.