The Calcutta High Court has extended an interim arrangement allowing the Mamata Banerjee-led faction of the Trinamool Congress to continue using three party bank accounts that were earlier frozen by the West Bengal Police.
The order was passed by Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya while hearing a petition concerning the operation of the accounts. The court made it clear that the Election Commission of India’s recent interim order relating to the Trinamool Congress name and election symbol does not, at this stage, change the earlier High Court arrangement concerning the bank accounts.
The three accounts had been frozen by the state police in connection with allegations of illegal transactions. The Mamata Banerjee-led faction challenged the freezing of the accounts before the Calcutta High Court.
The High Court had earlier permitted the faction to access the funds subject to conditions and oversight. The arrangement does not provide unrestricted control over the money. A court-appointed Special Officer is involved in approving withdrawals, with the funds intended for limited purposes such as routine organisational expenses and payment of party employees.
The latest order continues this arrangement until January 29, 2027, or until further orders from the court. The court has also fixed the matter for further consideration.
The case has become significant because of a separate dispute before the Election Commission over control of the Trinamool Congress. The Commission recently issued an interim order concerning the party’s name and traditional election symbol in connection with the upcoming West Bengal by-elections.
Following the Election Commission’s interim arrangement, the two rival factions were assigned separate temporary names and election symbols for the by-elections. The faction led by Mamata Banerjee was given the name Mamata All India Trinamool Congress and the football player symbol. The rival faction was given the name Democratic Trinamool Congress and the envelope symbol.
The Election Commission has stated that these arrangements are interim and connected to the upcoming by-elections. The larger question of which faction will ultimately be recognised as the Trinamool Congress remains pending.
This distinction was important in the High Court proceedings. The state government argued that the Election Commission’s interim order had affected the Mamata Banerjee faction’s claim over the bank accounts because the accounts were held in the name of the All India Trinamool Congress.
The High Court, however, noted that the Election Commission’s order was not a final determination of the factional dispute. The court therefore did not treat the Commission’s interim decision on the party name and election symbol as a final decision regarding the bank accounts.
The court also observed that its earlier order had not finally determined which faction was the legitimate or controlling faction of the Trinamool Congress. Instead, it had created an interim mechanism under which the accounts could be used for specified purposes while the wider dispute remained unresolved.
The financial restrictions are therefore still relevant. The Mamata Banerjee-led faction cannot use the funds without the conditions imposed by the court. The Special Officer will continue to oversee the use of the money under the existing arrangement.
The police investigation into the alleged transactions connected with the accounts is also continuing. According to reports, the police had submitted a report during the latest hearing after being directed by the court to investigate the matter. The High Court’s interim order on the operation of the accounts does not amount to a final finding on the allegations concerning the transactions.
The development comes at a time when the political dispute within the Trinamool Congress has moved into both legal and electoral forums. The Election Commission is considering the larger question of recognition, while the High Court is dealing with issues concerning the frozen bank accounts.
The two factions are currently preparing to contest upcoming by-elections under the temporary names and symbols allotted by the Election Commission. The Commission’s interim arrangement applies to those elections and remains subject to its eventual determination of the factional dispute.
The Mamata Banerjee faction has also challenged the Election Commission’s interim decision before the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has agreed to urgently consider the petition concerning the freezing of the Trinamool Congress name and its traditional election symbol.
The High Court’s latest decision, therefore, does not settle the larger dispute over control of the Trinamool Congress. It only continues the existing interim financial arrangement concerning the three bank accounts.
The court has directed that the arrangement will remain in place until January 29, 2027, or until further orders. If the Election Commission reaches a final decision on the recognition of the rival factions before that date, the parties may approach the High Court for appropriate changes to the existing order.
The case highlights the distinction between an interim judicial arrangement and a final decision on party ownership or recognition. The High Court has not finally determined which faction is entitled to the Trinamool Congress name, election symbol or overall organisational control. Those wider issues remain subject to proceedings before the Election Commission and the courts.