The Calcutta High Court has directed the Union Home Ministry to be added as a party in a case concerning the security of Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra in West Bengal’s Krishnanagar constituency. The court has asked that the ministry be added by Thursday, October 15, with the matter scheduled for its next hearing on December 2.
Moitra approached the High Court seeking enhanced police protection after alleging that she had repeatedly faced harassment and attacks while travelling within her Lok Sabha constituency. The allegations include incidents in which eggs were thrown at her and instances of confrontation during road journeys. Her side also alleged that some of the incidents took place in the presence of police personnel.
The case had earlier led the High Court to direct that Moitra be provided police protection in Krishnanagar. However, her lawyers told the court that alleged incidents had continued and sought round-the-clock security for the MP. They argued that the protection currently available to her was not sufficient to prevent repeated confrontations.
During the proceedings, the court sought information from the West Bengal government on the rules governing security for Members of Parliament. The state was also asked to provide details of the framework under which protection is assigned to an elected representative. The report requested by the court was submitted on Wednesday, October 14.
The state’s lawyer told the court that Moitra was already being provided security under the rules of the Union Home Ministry. The state also said that the arrangement followed the Yellow Book and that she had been provided X-category security. The Yellow Book contains the security guidelines used by the authorities to determine protection arrangements for individuals covered by the system.
Moitra’s lawyer, however, submitted that although she had a personal security officer, the officer was not present with her at all times. The lawyer argued that the alleged repeated incidents justified a request for additional protection and said that the Union Home Ministry would be able to provide information on the security arrangement and the applicable rules.
Following these submissions, the High Court directed that the Union Home Ministry be added to the case. The ministry is required to be joined by Thursday, while the next hearing is listed for December 2. The court’s proceedings will determine how the existing security arrangement and the request for additional protection are addressed within the applicable framework.
