'Legal Fight Between Guv & CM Not Desirable': Calcutta High Court Asks Mamata Banerjee & Ananda Bose To Amicably Settle Defamation Case

In the defamation case filed by West Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over allegedly defamatory remarks, a Calcutta High Court bench of Justice Krishna Rao has suggested the parties to amicably settle the dispute since a "legal tussle" between the Governor and Chief Minister before the High Court would not be desirable."Governor and Chief Minister fighting before the court...it is not good, let the court be left to the litigants only," the bench orally remarked.The bench orally suggested that the parties settle their disputes outside court after a discussion but told counsel that he would also pass a written order to that effect if necessary.This suggestion was accepted by Banerjee's lawyers Senior Advocates SN Mookherjee and Kalyan Banerjee. Banerjee submitted that "in politics, one should develop thick skin, he should not be very sensitive."DSG Dhiraj Trivedi, appearing for the Governor, sought an extension of time for filing an affidavit in the case, to which the bench remarked if he was serious in pursuing the case further. While allowing an extension of time, it suggested Trivedi to attempt to get the matter amicably settled, and the DSG responded that he would attempt to do so.Accordingly, the matter was kept for further hearing on 9th April.BackgroundWest Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose had approached the Calcutta High Court with a suit of defamation against WB Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.The plea came in the aftermath of the Chief Minister allegedly making comments against the Governor stating that she had been informed by women that they did not feel safe visiting the Raj Bhavan due to recent allegations of sexual harassment against the governor by a former Raj Bhavan employee."Women have informed me that they do not feel safe in going to the Raj Bhavan due to recent incidents reported there," the Chief Minister had said.In response, the Governor reportedly stated that those holding high offices such as the Chief Minister should refrain from making "erroneous and slanderous" comments.Case: DR. C V ANANDA BOSE VS SUSHRI MAMATA BANERJEE AND ORS. Case No: CS/168/2024Click here to read order

'Legal Fight Between Guv & CM Not Desirable': Calcutta High Court Asks Mamata Banerjee & Ananda Bose To Amicably Settle Defamation Case

Srinjoy Das

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