Calcutta High Court Modifies Order Lifting ECI's Restrictions On Motorbike Riding On Poll Day, Bans Group-Biking & Bike Rallies

The Calcutta High Court has modified a single bench order, which removed all restrictions imposed by the Election Commission of India on bike riding, bike rallies and pillion riding ahead of the second phase of the West Bengal polls to be held on 29th April.Challenging the order, the ECI approached a division bench consisting of Justices Shampa Sarkar and Ajay Kumar Gupta.The Bench observed...

WB Polls: Calcutta High Court Quashes Requisition Of School's Buses For Election Duty

The Calcutta High Court has quashed the requisition of eight school buses belonging to South Point, for West Bengal Assembly election duty, holding that the police and transport authorities acted without jurisdiction and failed to show any prior approval from the competent election authorities.Justice Krishna Rao observed that although Section 160 of the Representation of the People Act,...

WB Polls: Plea In Calcutta High Court Flags Alleged 'Serious Misconduct' By Police Observer Who 'Unofficially' Met BJP Candidate At Hotel

A writ petition has been moved before the Calcutta High Court alleging serious misconduct by an IPS officer appointed as Police Observer for the West Bengal Legislative Assembly Elections 2026, after he allegedly held a private and undisclosed meeting with a BJP candidate within the constituency under his charge.The petition contends that such conduct by an Election Commission-appointed...

WB Polls: Calcutta High Court Allows Bike Riding On Poll Day, Says EC Cannot Impose Blanket Restrictions In Name Of Free & Fair Polls

The Calcutta High Court on Friday modified restrictions imposed on motorcycle movement during the ongoing West Bengal Assembly elections, holding that authorities cannot impose a blanket restriction on motorcycle riding merely in the name of ensuring free and fair elections.Justice Krishna Rao observed that while the Election Commission enjoys wide powers under Article 324 of the Constitution...

Calcutta High Court Denies Interim Relief To 16-Year-Old Student Expelled Over Bullying Allegations, Declines Plea To Sit For Exams

The Calcutta High Court has refused to grant interim relief to a 16-year-old student seeking permission to sit for internal examinations after being expelled by a private school over allegations of bullying, while holding that the writ petition challenging the disciplinary action is maintainable under Article 226 of the Constitution.Justice Reetobroto Kumar Mitra observed that any...

Calcutta High Court Quarterly Digest: January - March 2026

ORDERS/JUDGEMENTS (Citations 1 to 172)GST Registration Cancellation Unsustainable When Hearing & Decision Were Made By Different Authorities: Calcutta High CourtCase Title: S.K.M. Timber Private Limited v. Superintendent of Central Tax, Burrabazar Division, Kolkata North CGST & CX Commissionerate and othersCitation: 2026 LiveLaw (Cal) 1The Calcutta High Court held that a GST...

Civic Body Cannot Keep Highest Bidder Waiting Indefinitely; State Approval Not Needed To Sell Municipal Land: Calcutta High Court

The Calcutta High Court has held that the Howrah Municipal Corporation (HMC) cannot indefinitely withhold execution of sale deeds in favour of a successful auction purchaser on the pretext of pending State approval, when the governing statute itself authorises the Corporation to dispose of its property. Justice Shampa Sarkar directed the State Government to grant the necessary approval...

Calcutta High Court Stays ECI Memo Branding 800 Persons As “Trouble-Makers”; Says It Cannot Issue “Blanket Direction” Beyond Statute

The Calcutta High Court has stayed a controversial communication issued from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal, which allegedly identified around 800 persons as “trouble-makers” and called for action against them ahead of the Assembly elections, observing prima facie that the Election Commission cannot issue such “blanket direction” when election offences are...

WB Polls | Calcutta High Court Questions Need For ECI Order To Arrest 'Troublemakers' When Law Already Covers Offences, Reserves Verdict

The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday (April 22) orally asked the Election Commission of India the need for it to direct arrest of "trouble makers" ahead of West Bengal polls, when there are laws in place governing such offences along with statutory authorities who are duty bound to carry out the law. The court posed the query to the poll body while hearing a PIL alleging that the ECI...

Calcutta High Court Dismisses PIL Seeking Clarity Over Appellate Mechanism For Voters Deleted From West Bengal Electoral Roll After SIR

The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday (April 22) dismissed a PIL seeking clarity over Appellate Mechanism which can be used by voters whose names have been deleted from West Bengal electoral roll, ahead of the upcoming legislative assembly elections. Notably, the elections are scheduled on Thursday (April 23) and April 29. The petition, filed by Sk Anwar Ali, contends that despite...

Pension Not Payable If Employee Fails To Exercise Mandatory Option Under 1984 Model Pension Rules Adopted By Municipality: Calcutta HC

A Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court comprising Justice Shampa Sarkar and Justice Ajay Kumar Gupta held that an employee is not entitled to pension under the West Bengal Municipal (Employees' Death cum Retirement Benefits) Rules, 2003 if the municipality had already adopted the Model Pension Rules (1984), and the employee failed to exercise the mandatory option to come under...

WB Polls: PIL In Calcutta High Court Challenges Alleged List Of 'Troublemakers' By ECI To Detain TMC's Political Workers

The Calcutta High Court has been moved with a public interest litigation alleging that the Election Commission of India has secretly prepared and circulated a list of so-called “trouble makers” across West Bengal, with directions to identify and arrest or preventively detain such persons before polling in the 2026 Assembly elections.The petition, filed by advocate Md. Danish Farooqui,...