In a statement later, Mamata Banerjee’s advocate Sanjay Basu said that considering recent events, “women have approached law enforcement agencies” with allegations that they feel unsafe at Raj Bhavan. “It would be fair justification to state the agony of women, more so when the CM herself is a woman,” the statement read.
“The suit also seems to be an attempt to canvass other political issues by the Governor such as his refusal to let elected members take their oath before the Speaker in the garb of defamation. We will defend these allegations appropriately,” it further said.
Bose had last week refused to administer the oath ceremony to newly elected MLAs in the West Bengal Assembly as requested by them.
On Tuesday, he said he would treat Banerjee “as an accused” in the case. Criticising Banerjee for her remarks, Bose said public representatives were expected not to create “erroneous and slanderous impressions”.
The matter came up for hearing before a single judge bench of Justice Krishna Rao. Claiming that the allegations against the Governor were baseless, Bose’s lawyer urged for an interim injunction on further statements by the defendants in the defamation suit.
Justice Rao noted that publications referred to in the suit have not been made party to it. In response, the lawyer sought time to file a fresh application, incorporating necessary changes, following which the court will conduct another hearing on Thursday.
Former advocate generals S N Mookerjee and Jayanta Mitra and current advocate general Kishore Dutta appeared on Banerjee’s behalf.
During an administrative meeting in the state secretariat on June 27, Banerjee had said, “Women have complained to me that they are scared to go to Raj Bhavan in the light of what is happening there.”
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.