Calcutta High Court Weekly Round-Up: 27th April To 3rd May, 2026

WB Polls: Calcutta High Court Quashes Requisition Of School's Buses For Election DutyCase Title: South Point Education Society & Anr. vs State of West Bengal & Ors. Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Cal) 196The 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, 1951, empowers the government to requisition vehicles for elections, such power cannot be exercised arbitrarily or without following due process of law.Calcutta High Court Modifies Order Lifting ECI's Restrictions On Motorbike Riding On Poll Day, Bans Group-Biking & Bike RalliesCase: Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal Vs. Ritankar Das & Ors. Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Cal) 197The 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 that after hearing submissions on the need to ensure security and peaceful polling during the second phase, the earlier order required limited modification in the larger interest of free and fair elections.WB Polls: Calcutta High Court Urges Appellate Tribunal To Expeditiously Decide SIR Appeals Over Deletion Of Voters' Names Ahead Of PollingCase: Muddassir Ahmed Siddique Vs. The Election Commission of India & Ors. and connected matters Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Cal) 198The Calcutta High Court has requested the SIR Appellate Tribunal to consider and dispose of a bunch of appeals filed by voters whose names were allegedly deleted from the electoral roll, observing that an early decision would enable the petitioner to exercise his franchise in the upcoming poll scheduled for April 29, 2026. Justice Krishna Rao was hearing writ petitions filed by individuals who complained that although his name initially appeared in the voter list, it was subsequently removed.Calcutta High Court Denies Anticipatory Bail To Alleged Mastermind In ₹1000-Crore Cyber Fraud; Says He Was 'Practically Caught Red-Handed'Case Title: Rahul Verma v. State of West BengalCitation: 2026 LiveLaw (Cal) 199The Calcutta High Court has refused anticipatory bail to an accused in a massive cyber fraud case allegedly involving fake investment schemes, digital arrest scams and proceeds of crime running into thousands of crores, observing that he was “practically caught red-handed while perpetrating the alleged fraud.” Justice Jay Sengupta held that the petitioner could not claim parity with members of the Ruia family, who had earlier been granted anticipatory bail by a coordinate Bench, since the allegations against him were qualitatively different.“Trust ECI To Carry Out Duties Impartially”: Calcutta High Court Disposes Plea Challenging Preventive Action Memo After EC's WithdrawalCase Title: Md. Danish Farooqui v. Election Commission of India & Ors. Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Cal) 200The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday disposed of a public interest litigation challenging a memo issued by the office of the Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal, which had directed preventive action against persons allegedly involved in voter intimidation ahead of the Assembly elections.A Division Bench of Justice Arijit Banerjee and Justice Partha Sarathi Sen noted that the impugned memo dated April 27, 2026 had already been withdrawn by the Election Commission of India (ECI), rendering the matter substantially infructuous.Calcutta High Court Confirms 10-Year Sentence For Attempt To Murder After Man Hurls Bomb During 2008 Panchayat Poll CampaignCase Title: Sajal Maji v. The State of West Bengal Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Cal) 201The Calcutta High Court has upheld the conviction and 10-year sentence of a man found guilty of hurling a bomb at another person during Panchayat election campaigning in Birbhum, observing that any reasonable person throwing a bomb at someone must be presumed to know that such an act is likely to cause death.A Division Bench of Justice Arijit Banerjee and Justice Apurba Sinha Ray dismissed the appeal filed by Sajal Maji against his conviction under Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 9B(2) of the Indian Explosives Act.Calcutta High Court Upholds BSF Constable's Dismissal For Repeated Unauthorised Absence, Says Authority Can Act Against “Black Sheep”Case Title: Sudip Kumar Pal v. Union of India & Ors. Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Cal) 202The Calcutta High Court has upheld the dismissal of a Border Security Force (BSF) constable for repeatedly overstaying leave and remaining absent without...

Calcutta High Court Weekly Round-Up: 27th April To 3rd May, 2026

Srinjoy Das