Suvendu Adhikari files contempt case against Speaker Biman Banerjee

The political and legal feud between West Bengal's Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, and Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee has escalated, with Adhikari filing a contempt of court case against the Speaker. The move comes after the Assembly issued a notice prohibiting MLAs from entering the premises with their personal security guards. Adhikari has also requested that all relevant CCTV footage from the Assembly be preserved as evidence for the case, with a hearing expected next week.

The core of the dispute lies in the Speaker's recent notice, which, while banning personal security for MLAs, made a specific exception for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, citing security concerns. Adhikari argues that this exception directly violates a previous order from the Calcutta High Court. The High Court, acting on a petition filed by Adhikari himself, had stated that all legislators should be governed by the same rules regarding security inside the Assembly.

The legal battle's origins trace back to an incident in August of last year, when an altercation occurred between Adhikari and Trinamool MLA Tapan Chatterjee inside the Assembly. Following this, BJP MLAs, led by Adhikari, wrote a letter to the Speaker demanding enhanced security, alleging that the Speaker had not taken any action. This led Adhikari to file a petition in the Calcutta High Court seeking a resolution to the security issue.

In his earlier petition, Adhikari questioned why central security personnel, responsible for the protection of BJP MLAs, were not allowed inside the Assembly when Trinamool MLAs could allegedly enter with their own security guards. During the hearing of that case, the High Court directed that uniform rules should be made for all MLAs regarding entry with security personnel. This ruling set the stage for the recent developments.

On Monday, Speaker Biman Banerjee issued a notice at the Assembly gate, stating, “Following the Calcutta High Court’s order, no one will be allowed to enter the Assembly with security guards.” However, he added, “No security personnel other than the Chief Minister’s will be allowed inside the Assembly premises.” This specific exclusion of the Chief Minister is what prompted the current legal challenge.

Adhikari has vehemently opposed this new directive, arguing that it constitutes a clear violation of the High Court's directive for equal treatment. His decision to take the matter to court once again, this time on charges of contempt, highlights the deep-seated mistrust and ongoing power struggle between the Opposition and the state's ruling party. The outcome of this case could set a new precedent for security protocols within the Assembly.