The Calcutta High Court issued an order on Tuesday, prohibiting West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mamata Banerjee and three others from making any statements that could be considered defamatory or inaccurate about Governor CV Ananda Bose until August 14, 2024.
The court's decision followed CM Banerjee's recent defense against accusations made by Governor Bose regarding alleged molestation charges. Governor Ananda Bose had initiated a defamation lawsuit against CM Banerjee following her remarks suggesting that women felt unsafe entering the West Bengal Raj Bhavan due to recent allegations against him.
In a significant observation, Justice Krishna Rao, sitting as a single-bench judge, underscored that despite the right to freedom, constitutional authorities like Governor Bose should not be subjected to personal attacks through social media or other platforms. Such defamatory statements can severely harm an individual's reputation.
In another development in May, the Calcutta High Court had intervened by halting a police investigation involving the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the Governor and other Raj Bhavan staff members. These individuals were accused by a former female employee of wrongful restraint. The woman alleged that she had been confined in a room, her belongings were attempted to be taken away, and she was warned against speaking out against the Governor. She expressed her intent to address President Droupadi Murmu, seeking intervention in the matter.
