HC adjourns hearing of Bengal Guv’s defamation suit against Mamata till Thursday

The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday (July 3) adjourned till Thursday (July 4) the hearing of a defamation suit by West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over alleged comments made by her and some other Trinamool Congress leaders.

The case will be heard on Thursday after Bose’s lawyer makes necessary changes in the application.

Bose’s lawyer had told the court that baseless allegations were being made against the governor and had prayed for an interim injunction on further statements by the defendants in the defamation suit.

Justice Krishna Rao noted that publications referred to in the suit have not been made party in it.

The lawyer for Bose sought time to file a fresh application, incorporating necessary changes.

Granting permission, the high court said the matter will be taken up for hearing on Thursday.

Governor’s defamation case

Bose had filed a defamation case against Banerjee on June 28, a day after she claimed women complained to her that they were afraid to visit the Raj Bhavan because of the activities there.

During an administrative meeting at the state secretariat, Banerjee had on June 27 said "women have informed me they are afraid to visit Raj Bhavan due to recent incidents reported there".

Following Banerjee's remarks, the governor had said it was expected of public representatives not to create "erroneous and slanderous impressions".

On May 2, a contractual woman employee of Raj Bhavan had made an allegation of molestation against Bose, following which the Kolkata Police started an inquiry.

Under Article 361 of the Constitution, no criminal proceedings can be instituted against a governor during his/her term in office.

(With inputs from agencies)