BJP files appeal against Calcutta High Court order on derogatory ads about TMC

The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) has appealed a Calcutta High Court ruling that restrained the party from publishing "derogatory or slanderous" advertisements against the Trinamool Congress (TMC). This appeal was mentioned today for urgent listing before Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya. The BJP's counsel argued that the party was not heard before the single judge issued the order, as the TMC had not served notice to the BJP, preventing their appearance in court. \r

The bench agreed to hear the matter on Wednesday morning, pending notice to the other side. The appeal challenges a decision made by Justice Sabyasachi Bhattacharyya on May 20, which criticized the Election Commission of India (ECI) for failing to address TMC's complaints about BJP advertisements. The TMC had petitioned to restrain the BJP from publishing ads that targeted the Mamata Banerjee-led party, arguing that they violated the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by promoting messages based on caste and religion, such as the ad reading "Sanatan Virodhi Trinamool" (Trinamool Opposes Sanatan). \r

Justice Bhattacharyya found these ads to be in clear violation of the MCC, which prohibits election participants from making unverified allegations or distortions, leading to the temporary restraint on such publications.