Calcutta High Court Directs Strict Compliance With Undertaking Banning Mass Animal Sacrifice During Bolla Kali Puja

The Calcutta High Court has directed the West Bengal Government and the Bolla Kali Puja Committee to strictly adhere to the undertakings recorded in a meeting held on November 3, 2025, regarding the prevention of mass animal sacrifice during the Bolla Kali Puja.A Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Partha Sarathi Sen observed that the authorities and the Puja...

Second Appeal Not Maintainable Under Trade Marks Act: Calcutta High Court Dismisses Dunlop's Appeal

The Calcutta High Court recently reaffirmed that a second appeal against a Single Judge's order is not permissible under the Trade Marks Act, 1999. The court clarified that once an appeal from an order passed by the Registrar of Trademarks is decided by a Single Judge, no further appeal can be filed before a Division Bench in view of the bar under Section 100A of the Civil Procedure Code...

'Executive Cannot Distort Legislation': Calcutta High Court Quashes Notice Debarring Retired Employees From Holding Trade Union Posts

The Calcutta High Court bench of Justice Shampa Dutt (Paul), has quashed the notices dated 08.04.2025, 07.05.2025 and 29.05.2025 issued by the Registrar of Trade Unions, West Bengal, debarring retired employees from holding union posts, stating them to be in “complete violation of the said provision of the Act.” The court observed that “the explanation to sub-section (2) of Section 22...

Calcutta High Court Refuses To Quash Defamation Case Against Lawyer For Posting Book Extracts On Mamata Banerjee's 'Personal Life'

The Calcutta High Court has refused to quash a trial court order issuing summons to lawyer Koustav Bagchi, accused of uploading online parts of a book which claims that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had married a person clandestinely and also discussed about her personal life. Justice Apurba Sinha Ray rejected Bagchi's contention that the Public Prosecutor could not have filed...

Calcutta High Court Quashes 15 FIRs Against BJP Leader Suvendu Adhikari, Lifts Bar On Fresh Cases

The Calcutta High Court recently quashed 15 FIRs lodged against BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari. The court also vacated an interim order which had barred the institution of fresh cases against Adhikari without the leave of the court. This decision comes only months before the West Bengal Legislative Assembly polls to be held in 2026.In these FIRs, the Court found that there were either no...

Application Of Roster Point To Clear And Anticipated Vacancies Prevents Anomalous Appointments: Calcutta HC

A Division bench of the Calcutta High Court comprising Justice Debangsu Basak and Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya held that applying roster points separately to clear and anticipated vacancies is necessary to prevent anomalies and ensure fairness if anticipated vacancies did not materialize. Background Facts The Public Service Commission, West Bengal published an advertisement...

Adoption Of Pay Revision Scheme Doesn't Automatically Bind Employer To Its Retrospective Date : Calcutta HC

A Division bench of the Calcutta High Court comprising Justice Debangsu Basak and Justice Md. Shabbar Rashidi held that a cooperative society's decision to implement ROPA 2009 from August 2014 without arrears is valid, and it is not bound to grant benefits from January 1, 2006. Background Facts The appellant was appointed as a Junior Clerk by the Board of Directors of...

Civil Courts Cannot Grant Ex-Parte Injunction In Shareholder Disputes Due To Bar U/S 430 Companies Act: Calcutta High Court

The Calcutta High Court bench presided over by Justice Aniruddha Roy, has observed that a civil court cannot grant an ex parte ad interim injunction in a shareholder dispute, in light of the bar under section 430 of the Companies Act, 2013. The plaintiff filed a civil suit before the Civil Judge, Senior Division, Alipore, alleging that his shares in the Power Tools and Appliances...

Departmental Proceedings Instituted Before Retirement Can Continue; Punishment May Be Imposed Irrespective Of Pecuniary Loss : Calcutta HC

A Division bench of the Calcutta High Court comprising Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Smita Das De held that departmental proceedings instituted before retirement can validly continue under Rule 9(2) of the Railway Services (Pension) Rules, 1993, and punishment may be imposed even after superannuation for grave misconduct or negligence, irrespective of pecuniary loss to...

Property Tax Is First Charge On Property; Auction Purchaser Liable To Pay It Before Sale: Calcutta High Court

The Calcutta High Court has held that property tax is a first charge on property and the auction purchaser is liable to pay property tax prior to sale. The bench stated that where a statutory first charge is created on the property, such as in respect of property tax under Section 232 of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation Act, 1980, the municipal authority is entitled to...

Period Spent On Extraordinary Leave For Super-Specialty Course Can't Be Counted As Teaching Experience For Promotion: Calcutta HC

A Division bench of the Calcutta High Court comprising Justice Madhuresh Prasad and Justice Supratim Bhattacharya held that the period spent on extraordinary leave for pursuing a super-specialty course does not count toward the mandatory teaching experience required for promotion. Background Facts The respondent was appointed as an Assistant Professor in the Department of...

Power Of High Court To Extend Arbitrator's Mandate Is “Co-Extensive” With Power To Appoint Arbitrator: Calcutta HC

The Calcutta High Court has held that when an arbitrator is appointed by the High Court under section 11 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (Arbitration Act), an application under section 29A(4) seeking extension of the mandate of the arbitrator can be entertained by the High Court only and not by the Principal Civil Court or Commercial Court having territorial jurisdiction...