The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday declined to grant an urgent hearing to journalists of Ananda Bazar Patrika against whom FIRs were registered over the newspaper's use of the phrase “Gerua Gundagiri” (saffron hooliganism) while reporting on violence at Jadavpur University allegedly involving ABVP and FETSU students.

Senior Advocate SN Mookherjee appeared before Justice Saugata Bhattacharya seeking urgent intervention in the matter and submitted that the journalists were facing multiple criminal cases following the publication of the expression.

The FIRs were registered after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari took serious exception to the use of the phrase “Gerua Gundagiri” in the newspaper's coverage of the Jadavpur University violence.

Mookherjee submitted that allegations had been made that the journalists were attempting to incite communal sentiments.

“It had been said I am inciting communal interest. Three incidents have happened. I need urgent relief,” Mookherjee submitted.

The Court indicated that the appropriate remedy would be to file a petition seeking quashing of the FIRs.

“I am seeking quashing,” Mookherjee responded.

The Bench said the matter should be filed in the regular course and would be taken up according to the applicable procedure.

“File it, it will come as per presentation form,” the Court observed.

Mookherjee pressed for urgent listing, submitting that the matter required immediate intervention.

The Court, however, said that it was not inclined to specially fix the matter at this stage, pointing out that several petitions seeking quashing of FIRs were already pending before the Bench.

“I am not fixing any matter now because many quashing matters are pending before me,” the Court said.

Mookherjee clarified that the matter was “not political at all” and urged the Court to consider the urgency involved.

The Court reiterated that it could not start specially fixing matters and said the petition would come up in its ordinary course.

“I cannot start fixing matter. It will come. There are not many matters. It will be taken up. If not, you can remind me. I am not allowing,” the Court said.

Mookherjee subsequently sought liberty to mention the matter again if the situation changed, highlighting the circumstances faced by the journalists.

“Kindly give us liberty to mention in case the situation changes. Two senior ladies have been hauled up,” he submitted.

The Court responded that the petition should first be filed and indicated that an attempt could thereafter be made to have the matter taken up.

“You file it, let me make an attempt to reach the matter. It will come on which date you mention in your form,” the Court said.

The journalists are seeking quashing of the FIRs registered in connection with the publication's use of the expression “Gerua Gundagiri” in its coverage of the Jadavpur University violence.