"What steps taken so far?" HC asks Bengal govt over "egg-therapy"; orders to form new guidelines

The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday intervened in the growing trend of citizens throwing eggs at public representatives, directing the West Bengal government to submit a detailed factual affidavit on the matter. A division bench comprising Justice Tapobrata Chakraborty and Justice Parthasarathy Chatterjee was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed against these targeted public humiliations. The bench ordered the state administration to clarify the exact number of such registered incidents, the legal steps taken so far, and to formulate explicit guidelines to ensure the safety of public figures.

During the high-profile court hearing, the bench emphasized the immediate need to cultivate social awareness, questioning the efficacy of merely arresting one or two isolated individuals. Justice Chatterjee noted that it remains the fundamental responsibility of the state government to guarantee public safety. In response, State Additional Advocate General Rajdeep Majumdar argued that the government consistently warns citizens against taking the law into their own hands, but noted that executing formal police action requires a registered legal complaint.

Representing the petitioner, Kalyan Banerjee countered the state's stance by alleging police inaction and highlighting that these targeted egg attacks are actively occurring in highly sensitive zones, including regional airports. He urged the High Court to issue an immediate interim order, pointing out that political figures are publicly inciting these actions. The legal friction stems from a string of recent incidents across West Bengal, which began when Trinamool Congress All India General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee was targeted with thrown eggs during a post-poll inspection tour in Sonarpur.