Calcutta High Court Directs Union Home Ministry to Join Mahua Moitra Security Case

The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday directed the Union Home Ministry to be made a party to a case concerning the security of Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha member Mahua Moitra, who has sought enhanced protection alleging repeated harassment and attacks within her Krishnanagar constituency in West Bengal’s Nadia district.

A single-judge bench of Justice Saugata Bhattacharya directed that the Union Home Ministry be impleaded in the matter by Thursday. The next hearing has been scheduled for December 2.

Moitra had earlier approached the High Court seeking protection, alleging that miscreants had repeatedly harassed her within her constituency. She claimed that eggs had sometimes been thrown at her while she was at the party office and that she had also faced attacks while travelling in a car.

Following her initial plea, the court directed that adequate security be provided to the Trinamool Congress MP while she was within her constituency. As the alleged incidents of harassment and attacks continued, she approached the court again, seeking the deployment of full-time security personnel.

The court subsequently ordered the deployment of two security guards for Moitra while she was within her constituency.

On October 7, the High Court sought a report from the West Bengal government and asked it to explain the rules governing security arrangements for a Lok Sabha member within her constituency.

On Wednesday, Additional Advocate General Rajdeep Majumdar submitted the state government’s report before the court. He informed the bench that Moitra was receiving security in accordance with Union Home Ministry guidelines and the MP’s Yellow Book.

According to Majumdar, the Trinamool Congress MP had been provided ‘X’ category security under the Yellow Book provisions.

However, Moitra’s counsel countered that although a personal security officer (PSO) had been assigned to her, the officer did not remain with her round the clock.

The counsel argued that, in view of the alleged repeated attacks and Moitra’s demand for enhanced protection, the Union Home Ministry could intervene in the matter.

After hearing the submissions, Justice Bhattacharya directed that the Union Home Ministry be included as a party in the case by Thursday.

The matter will next be heard on December 2.