Overview
- A division bench of Justices Debangsu Basak and Md. Shabbar Rashidi set aside Speaker Biman Banerjee’s 2022 order and voided Roy’s appointment as Public Accounts Committee chair.
- The court relied on Roy’s public induction into the Trinamool Congress at a June 11, 2021 press conference, which it said showed he voluntarily gave up BJP membership.
- The Krishnanagar Uttar seat is now vacant, with officials indicating a bypoll is unlikely because state assembly elections are expected early next year.
- The disqualification followed petitions by Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari and BJP MLA Ambika Roy, who challenged both Roy’s status and his PAC nomination.
- BJP leaders hailed the ruling as a constitutional victory, lawyers described it as a first-of-its-kind high court disqualification, and the Speaker said he will study the order before deciding next steps.