Calcutta High Court restrains BJP from publishing derogatory ads about Trinamool Congress

The Calcutta High Court on May 20 issued an injunction restraining the BJP from publishing advertisements that violate the election Model Code of Conduct until June 4

The Calcutta High Court on May 20 issued an injunction restraining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from publishing advertisements that violate the election Model Code of Conduct (MCC) until June 4, the day the Lok Sabha election process ends.

The court, in an injunction order, also restrained the BJP from publishing advertisements mentioned by the Trinamool Congress in its petition claiming unverified allegations against it and its workers.

A single bench of Justice Sabyasachi Bhattacharyya restrained the BJP from publishing advertisements in any form of the media which is violative of the MCC till June 4 or until further notice.

The court observed that a perusal of the newspaper advertisements annexed by petitioner Trinamool evince that those are in violation of the MCC.

It also criticised the Election Commission (EC) for not addressing the complaints promptly, especially with most phases of the Lok Sabha elections already completed.

The counsel appearing for Trinamool contended before the court that it is being prejudiced by some newspaper advertisements by the BJP, claiming violation of the MCC and media compendium issued by the EC.

Annexing some advertisements by the BJP, the petitioner claimed that despite complaining, the EC did not take any step and that only after filing of this petition, the commission had issued notice on May 18.