Calcutta High Court Refuses Interim Relief Against Appointment of West Bengal Opposition Leader, Next Hearing on July 28

June 18, 2026 : The Calcutta High Court on Thursday declined to grant any interim relief against the decision of West Bengal Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose to appoint breakaway Trinamool Congress MLA Ritabrata Banerjee as the Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly.

Justice Krishna Rao, hearing a petition filed by TMC MLA Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay, refused to stay the Speaker’s decision. The petitioner has challenged both the rejection of his nomination for the post and the subsequent appointment of Banerjee as the Leader of Opposition.

During the proceedings, the Court directed the respondents to file their affidavits within three weeks. The petitioner was granted an additional two weeks thereafter to submit a reply affidavit.

The matter has been listed for further hearing on July 28. Until then, the Speaker’s decision appointing Ritabrata Banerjee as the Leader of Opposition will remain in force.