Calcutta High Court Allows Suvendu Adhikari To Visit Waqf Bill Violence Affected Area In Murshidabad

The Calcutta High Court has allowed BJP Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari to visit areas in Murshidabad, which have been affected by large-scale violence during demonstrations against the Waqf bill which was recently passed by the parliament.

A division bench of Justices Soumen Sen and Raja Basu Chowdhury allowed Adhikari's visit, while holding that, "they shall not take out any procession or hold any rally or make any public speech that are likely to cause breach of peace during their interaction with the victims. This is necessary for the purpose of preservation of peace and tranquillity."

Counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioners submitted that the writ petition has been filed for a direction upon the authority concerned to immediately allow the writ petitioners along with two other persons with security personnel to visit Dhuliyan, Suti and Samsherganj at Murshidabad and also ensure that no untoward incident takes place during such visit.

He submitted that having regard to the fact that leaders of other political parties were allowed to visit the affected areas and to interact with the victims the petitioners cannot be prevented from visiting the aforesaid places. 

Advocate General submitted that this petition is frivolous and is required to be dismissed in limine with exemplary costs. Disputing the status of the petitioner no.1 in the Assembly, it is submitted that even if it is accepted that the petitioner no.1 is the Leader of the Opposition, the petitioner no.1 does not enjoy any immunity and does not require any blessings of the Court for his visit.

Court noted that while there is no specific averment in the writ petition that the Leader of the Opposition was prevented from entering the areas, it appears that the writ petitioner no.1 wanted a confirmation from the SP concerned with regard to the proposed date and time of his visit so that no untoward incident could take place during such visit.

The State Administration has so far not responded to any of the emails. The reason for not responding to such emails could not be explained. The writ petitioner no.1 as a Leader of the Opposition, desires to visit the said places and to interact with the victims. It appears from the record that leaders of other political parties have visited the affected areas, the court noted.

In making such observations, the court allowed the visit to the area while noting that they would have to inform the state administration who would need to take necessary steps in that regard and that the jurisdictional SPs shall ensure that no breach of peace takes place during such visit and if required additional forces may be deployed to prevent any untoward incident.

Case: Suvendu Adhikari & Anr. Vs. The State of West Bengal & Ors. 

Case No: WPA 8694 of 2025

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