Supreme Court directs West Bengal government to ensure smooth constituency visit for Mahua Moitra

Court directs interim security for Krishnanagar MP

The Supreme Court has instructed the West Bengal government to make necessary arrangements to ensure Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra can visit her Krishnanagar constituency without disruption during the upcoming Durga Puja and Diwali festivities.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi asked the state administration to facilitate her access to the constituency while the court considers her petition regarding official security and accommodation at state-owned guest houses.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the West Bengal government, agreed to return to court on Friday with a formal statement on the specific administrative and security provisions that can be put in place for her visit.

Call for systematic protocol on parliamentary visits

During the proceedings, the bench observed that a clear protocol should govern visits by elected parliamentarians to their respective districts to maintain administrative stability and clear lines of communication with local law enforcement.

"There must be some protocol. There are 800 MPs after all," Mehta stated in court, acknowledging the need for systematic administrative procedures while raising objections regarding the maintainability of bringing individual accommodation grievances directly before the highest court.

Moitra moved the top court seeking guidelines to guarantee cooperation from local authorities and police when MPs conduct official duties and oversee development initiatives under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development scheme.

Background of the petition

The petition followed a dispute regarding Moitra's access to government accommodation in Nadia district. Her petition cited an event on the night of August 14 at the Nadia Circuit House in Krishnanagar, where she alleged that local officials asked her to vacate and a crowd gathered outside the facility.

Following that incident, the Nadia district administration issued a circular on September 1 requiring members of parliament and state assemblies to submit accommodation requests three to four days in advance, with approvals subject to local security evaluations.

Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, representing Moitra, requested immediate interim directions so the MP could attend festival events in her constituency. The bench affirmed that while arguments over maintainability remain open, state authorities must ensure public order and proper administrative support for elected representatives.