CPM TAKES BOOKSTALL BATTLE TO CALCUTTA HIGH COURT AMID JADAVPUR STANDOFF

October 19, 2026

The Communist Party of India (Marxist), or CPM, has approached the Calcutta High Court over an alleged attempt by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and police to remove its temporary Durga Puja bookstall in Jadavpur, Kolkata.

The party has sought judicial directions restraining the civic body and police from dismantling the stall. CPM lawyer Shamim Ahmed said the petition would be mentioned before the High Court’s vacation bench on October 22 for an urgent hearing.

The dispute escalated on October 17 when municipal officials, accompanied by police and security personnel, allegedly attempted to remove the stall over questions concerning official permission. The CPM maintains that its application to establish the stall had not been properly considered.

The incident comes amid reports of vandalism and obstruction targeting bookstalls operated by Left parties at several locations across West Bengal. The CPM has described the controversy as a threat to democratic expression, while the wider dispute has intensified debate over equal treatment of political organisations during the state’s festive season.

The upcoming court proceedings are expected to bring renewed attention to the legal and administrative questions surrounding the Jadavpur bookstall.