The single‑judge vacation bench of the Calcutta High Court, presided over by Justice Partha Pratim Roy, dismissed the CPI‑M’s petition for compensation after vandalism of its bookstalls near Durga Puja pandals across West Bengal, on Tuesday afternoon.
The court noted a similar petition is already pending before the division bench of the Calcutta High Court, scheduled for a hearing in January 2026, and therefore a separate vacation‑bench hearing was unnecessary.
Justice Roy echoed a prior ruling by Chief Justice Ravindra Vithalrao Ghuge, who had ordered the removal of unauthorized CPI‑M stalls near a Puja pandal, reaffirming that stalls erected without police permission cannot operate.
Vandalism reports surfaced on the night of Saptami, when two CPI‑M bookstalls in Jadavpur were damaged, sparking political debate and condemnation from West Bengal Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta, who called the acts “unfortunate and shameful.”
The incident has intensified ideological tensions, with civil society figures decrying the attacks, while the CPI‑M seeks legal redress for the losses suffered during the festival.
The case’s next milestone is the division‑bench hearing slated for 12 January, where the court will determine the compensation claim and the legality of the bookstalls' operations.