Kolkata High Court Dismisses TMC MLA Kunal Ghoshs Petition on Assembly Speaking Rights

Kolkata, August 7: The Kolkata High Court’s single bench dismissed the petition of Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Kunal Ghosh on Friday. Ghosh, a former journalist turned politician, alleged that his rights to speak in the West Bengal Assembly as an MLA were being suppressed.

While rejecting the petition, Justice Krishna Rao stated that the court cannot interfere in the internal matters of the Assembly, deeming Ghosh’s petition not worthy of hearing.

Justice Rao advised Ghosh to address his grievances to the Assembly Speaker, Rathindra Bose. Ghosh is a prominent figure in the ‘real but minority’ faction of the TMC, remaining loyal to former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee.

Most TMC MLAs have joined the ‘rebellious but majority’ faction led by expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee, who currently serves as the official leader of the opposition in the West Bengal Assembly.

Recently, Ghosh reiterated his claims that he was not allowed to speak during the Assembly sessions. He alleged that his name was omitted from the speakers’ list during the last extended budget session.

He accused the Ritabrata-led faction within the TMC of orchestrating this exclusion. During the previous budget session, Ghosh had a heated argument with the chief whip of Ritabrata’s faction, Akhruzzaman.

The Assembly witnessed chaos, leading to Ghosh being escorted out by marshals. He was also suspended from the state Assembly for that day. Despite this, he has continuously alleged a conspiracy to silence him, prompting him to file a case in the Kolkata High Court.

During the hearing on Friday afternoon, Ghosh’s lawyer requested a ‘judicial review’ of the matter. Conversely, the lawyer representing the state Assembly argued that Ghosh’s petition was not worthy of consideration, stating that he had the opportunity to speak in June.

The Assembly’s lawyer questioned, “There are 294 MLAs. Everyone should be given a chance to speak. How can the court decide who can speak and who cannot?” Ultimately, Justice Rao dismissed the request for ‘judicial review,’ asserting that the court has no role in this matter.

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