Inside Calcutta HC after Mamata Banerjee swapped saree for lawyer's robe

Kolkata,UPDATED: May 14, 2026 21:27 IST

In a scorching sun, Mamata Banerjee, who is often spotted in white-toned sarees, arrived at the Calcutta High Court at 10:20 am, but this time wearing a black gown, also known as an Advocate's Robe.

The visual departure from her signature look signalled a new role for the Trinamool Congress supremo, that of a practising advocate fighting for her party workers in a court of law.

While the State Assembly was in full swing just 100 meters away, with newly elected Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari attending the MLA oath ceremony, the former Chief Minister was preparing to contest a Public Interest Litigation regarding post-poll violence before the Chief Justice’s Division Bench.

Stepping out of her SUV, Banerjee, who appeared unusually calm and composed, was joined by a legal team led by the Senior Advocate and TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee. After being helped into her legal robes, she entered the premises amidst curious onlookers and saluting police constables.

In my two-decade career, not once have I seen Mamata Banerjee wearing the Advocate’s Robe and so calm. Inside Court Room No 1, the atmosphere was electric; as news of her arrival spread, hundreds of lawyers packed the room, forcing police to restrict entry to the public. Accompanied by her aide Chandrima Bhattacharya, Banerjee sat composed until the proceedings began.

Addressing the bench of Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Partha Sarathi Sen, Mamata Banerjee reminded the court of her legal roots. "I enroled as a lawyer in the Bar Council of India in 1985. I want to argue before the bench," she said, marking her first appearance as a lawyer in the Calcutta High Court.

The legal team for the TMC presented a grim picture of the state. Kalyan Banerjee alleged that 60 shops had been burnt in Khejuri, 10 workers killed, and party offices demolished in Goghat using bulldozers.

Taking the floor, Mamata Banerjee made an emotional appeal: She claimed that newly married couples, as well as members of the SC, ST, and minority communities, were being thrown out of their homes. She reported that even her own residence faced daily chaos and threats.

"This is not a state of bulldozer, it is a state of culture. Save the state, Sir," she pleaded, urging the court to direct the police to register FIRs. The proceedings were briefly interrupted when an individual called her a "drama queen," prompting the Chief Justice to issue a stern warning regarding court decorum.

As she stepped out of the courtroom, Banerjee was met by a sea of people, the majority of whom were lawyers. As she walked through the corridors, the atmosphere turned volatile; slogans of "Chor-Chor" and "Jai Shree Ram" echoed through the halls. Amid the chaos, Banerjee was escorted to the elevator to reach the ground floor. Upon exiting the elevator, the sloganeering intensified. However, in sharp contrast to her usual fiery political persona, Banerjee remained composed, maintaining a brisk smile and keeping her hands folded as she approached her vehicle.

The combination of a human wave and a heavy media presence created a precarious situation, but her PSO, Kusum Dwivedi, successfully guarded her through the crowd. Banerjee departed in her white SUV at 11:55 am, passing the North Gate of the State Assembly, the very gate that once served as her primary entrance. At that same moment, inside the assembly, Suvendu Adhikari remained on the floor witnessing the oath ceremony of the winning candidates.

After hearing both sides, the Division Bench issued an order:

• The police must exercise strict control to prevent further violence.
• The court mandated that victims be reinstated to their homes or shops immediately, regardless of political affiliation.
• All parties are required to submit affidavits within five weeks.
• The court will later decide if the matter warrants a special five-judge bench.

- Ends