In a surprising turn of events, West Bengal’s former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee appeared before the Calcutta High Court on Thursday dressed in traditional legal attire—a black gown over her signature white saree. She was there to argue in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning post-poll violence in the state. While she asserted her right to practice law, the Bar Council of India (BCI) has taken notice and sought a detailed report from the West Bengal Bar Council regarding her current professional status.
The BCI’s inquiry focuses on whether Mamata Banerjee followed the mandatory protocols for a practicing advocate. According to the council’s letter, they have requested her enrollment number, date of registration, and specifically whether she suspended her license while serving as Chief Minister from 2011 to 2026. Under Bar Council rules, an advocate cannot practice law while holding a salaried or constitutional post, and the BCI is investigating if and when she formally applied for the resumption of her legal practice after leaving office.
During the hearing before a bench led by Chief Justice Sujoy Paul, Mamata Banerjee argued that the security of women and minorities in the state had reached a critical point. She informed the court that she has been a registered advocate since 1995 and has consistently renewed her membership. Meanwhile, the current Chief Minister, Suvendu Adhikari, who recently defeated her in the Bhawanipore constituency, dismissed the incident as a distraction, stating he has more important administrative tasks to focus on. The BCI has ordered all original records to be preserved, signaling a thorough verification of her legal credentials.
