Cops flag TMC July 21 meeting violation, HC issues warning
Times of India | 1 August 2026
Kolkata: A report by the joint commissioner of Kolkata Police to Calcutta High Court on Friday noted that the Mamata Banerjee faction of Trinamool occupied both flanks of Cathedral Road during its July 21 Martyrs’ Day meeting, contrary to the HC’s orders.
Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya observed that future violations of such nature “will be viewed seriously”.
Justice Bhattacharyya had allowed the meeting on Cathedral Road after TMC’s initial applications to police to hold the meeting at the usual venue — in front of Victoria House — were rejected. While capping the number of participants at 3,000, this faction was allowed to hold the meeting while ensuring that only one flank of the road was occupied.
In the report submitted by the joint commissioner, advocate general (AG) Surajit Nath Mitra submitted that after the HC’s intervention on an alleged untoward incident which occurred at night near the venue, cops were deployed and they remained there till the time the stage and sound equipment, among others, were removed. The violation was highlighted by the AG during dictation of the order.
“However, it needs to be recorded that reports reveal supporters of the political party had blocked both flanks of Cathedral Road, contrary to the order passed by the court. When an order was passed directing TMC to keep one flank of Cathedral Road open for vehicular movement, such order was required to be complied with,” Justice Bhattacharyya ordered.