Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday extended the interim stay on the demolition of Trinamool Congress (TMC) General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee’s party office in Amtala, South 24 Parganas, until August 6, when the matter will be heard again.
The order was passed by the single-judge bench of Justice Suvar Ghosh, who said the court would consider the matter further during the next hearing.
State Government Seeks Withdrawal of Stay
During the hearing, Advocate General Surajit Nath Mitra, representing the West Bengal government, argued that the demolition had taken place on plot number 507, whereas the petition referred to plots 509 and 512.
He contended that no demolition had occurred on the plots mentioned in the petition and requested the court to withdraw the interim stay.
Petitioner Alleges Demolition Without Notice
Appearing for Leaps & Bounds Private Limited, the company linked to Abhishek Banerjee and his family, senior advocate Kishor Datta argued that the authorities carried out the demolition without serving any prior notice.
He submitted that even if any construction was found to be unauthorised, the landowner should have been given an opportunity to remove it before the authorities initiated demolition.
Next Hearing on August 6
After hearing both sides, Justice Ghosh observed that three separate applications related to the matter needed to be heard together.
The court, therefore, adjourned the hearing to August 6 and ordered that the interim stay on the demolition will continue until then.
The disputed building, where demolition was carried out on July 18 and 19, is registered in the name of Leaps & Bounds Private Limited, a company reportedly linked to Abhishek Banerjee and members of his family.