Mamata approaches HC seeking permission for ‘Martyrs’ Day rally

After no response from the police, Trinamool Congress (TMC)’s Mamata Banerjee faction approached the Calcutta High Court on Friday seeking permission to hold its annual ‘Martyrs’ Day’ rally on July 21 in front of Victoria House at Dharmatala. Senior party leader Derek O’Brien has filed a petition in the court of Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya. The matter is likely to be heard on Monday, July 13.

The party’s faction said that it had applied to the Kolkata Police for permission to hold the rally at Dharmatala, following a long-standing tradition. However, with no clear response from Lalbazar, the police headquarters, the party decided to seek legal intervention to secure approval for the event.

Tensions escalated earlier this week when TMC leaders Kunal Ghosh, Baishwanar Chattopadhyay, and Dola Sen visited the site in front of Victoria House and were seen measuring the area to assess space for setting up a stage, despite not having formal permission. The move drew sharp criticism in the Assembly, with opposition voices questioning the conduct of the leaders and stating that public roads cannot be arbitrarily occupied or measured in a manner that disrupts traffic.

The situation has been further complicated by a stringent order imposed by the police under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which prohibits all forms of public gatherings across a large part of central Kolkata for 60 days — from July 2 to August 30. Police authorities have indicated that permission for a rally at Dharmatala during this period is unlikely.

Adding to the legal complexity, a related matter concerning the July 21 observance is already pending before the High Court. In a 2018 ruling, the court had clearly stated that political rallies and meetings cannot completely block major roads, as it disrupts public movement and traffic flow. Allegations have since emerged that this directive was violated during the July 21 rally in 2025, prompting contempt of court proceedings against leaders of the then-ruling TMC government.