New Delhi: Following the Calcutta High Court’s decision to restrain West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee from making any ‘defamatory’ statements against Governor C.V. Ananda Bose, the lawyer representing the Chief Minister has said that Banerjee has a right to freedom of speech and that the High Court order will be challenged.
Sanjay Basu, the lawyer representing Banerjee said in a statement that the Chief Minister was alluding to the apprehensions of numerous women who had approached her, reported The Hindu.
The Calcutta High Court had on Tuesday (July 16), restrained CM Banerjee and three others from “making any defamatory or incorrect statement against the plaintiff (Bose) by way of publication and on social platforms till August 14, 2024,” the Press Trust of India had earlier reported.
Basu said that the High Court’s order will be challenged.
“The Hon’ble Court has not arrived at any finding or conclusion that the statements challenged in the suit were defamatory or incorrect. The Hon’ble Chief Minister has merely alluded to the apprehensions of numerous women who have approached her. She has a right to freedom of speech that is guaranteed under Article 19 of the Constitution of India,” Basu said in a statement, reported The Hindu.
On June 28, Governor Bose had filed a defamation case against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee after the latter claimed that women complained to her that they were afraid to visit Raj Bhavan.
“As a public representative and as a woman, she cannot shut her eyes and be oblivious to the felt sufferings and grievances of women. Therefore, as the statements made by the Chief Minister have not been found to be defamatory, we believe that the order of general restraint of speech is unfounded,” Basu added, reported The Hindu.
