West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has filed an appeal with the Calcutta High Court to challenge a recent order that restrains her from making defamatory and incorrect statements against Governor CV Ananda Bose.
The appeal was filed on Thursday and has not yet been scheduled for a hearing.
On July 15, Justice Krishna Rao issued an interim injunction against Banerjee, two elected members of the West Bengal State Legislative Assembly, and a leader of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC).
This order was in response to an interim application by Governor Bose in a defamation suit he filed.
Governor Bose approached the High Court following Banerjee’s statement that women no longer felt safe entering the Raj Bhavan in West Bengal due to recent sexual harassment allegations against him.
In the order, Justice Rao noted that as a constitutional authority, Governor Bose cannot counter personal attacks from Banerjee and other TMC leaders via social media.
The judge also observed that the right to freedom of speech and expression is not absolute and cannot be used to make defamatory statements that tarnish someone’s reputation.
The Court stated, “In cases where the statements are made recklessly to harm the plaintiff’s reputation, the Court is justified in granting an injunction. Without an interim order, the defendants would be free to continue making defamatory statements against the plaintiff, further damaging his reputation.”
Consequently, the Court restrained Banerjee and others from making any defamatory or incorrect statements against Bose through publications and social media until August 14.
