Full Breakdown
Calcutta High Court Quashes Fire-Dept Evacuation Order for Abhishek Banerjee’s Office
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On September 4 2026, the West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services Department ordered evacuation of the sixth, seventh floors and basement of an eight-storey building on Camac Street, Kolkata, where Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee’s office is located, citing non-compliance with fire-safety norms and an expired certificate. A single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court, Justice Krishna Rao, set aside the notice, directing the fire department to issue a fresh notice, reconsider Banerjee’s reply filed on September 3, and conduct a new inspection before further action.
Background & Context
The premises, owned by Rama Devi Goonda, were served the evacuation notice after failing to respond to earlier fire-safety communications. The sixth and seventh floors have been leased to the Trinamool Youth Congress since March 2020 under a ten-year agreement. In August 2026, Kolkata Municipal Corporation officials removed an allegedly unauthorised TMC billboard from the building, sparking a scuffle involving supporters, private guards and police, which heightened scrutiny of the building’s safety compliance.
Key Figures & Groups
- Abhishek Banerjee – MP, Trinamool Congress, occupant of the contested office.
- Justice Krishna Rao – High Court judge who delivered the judgment.
- West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services Department – Issuer of the evacuation notice.
- Rama Devi Goonda – Owner of the building’s sixth and seventh floors.
- Advocate General Surojit Nath Mitra – Represented the state, cited fire-safety violations and LPG cylinder storage.
Timeline
- Sept 1 2026 – Police register a case against Banerjee.
- Sept 3 2026 – Banerjee submits a reply to the fire notice.
- Sept 4 2026 – Fire department issues evacuation order.
- Sept 11 2026 – High Court directs fire department not to implement the order pending final decision.
- Sept 4 2026 (court hearing) – Justice Rao quashes the notice and orders a fresh inspection after a new notice is served.
Data & Statistics
- Fire-safety certificate expired in August 2026.
- Advocate General highlighted violations and presence of multiple LPG cylinders on the floors.
Official Statements & Responses
- Justice Krishna Rao – Declared the September 4 order “set aside and quashed,” and instructed a fresh notice and re-inspection.
- Fire Department – Warned that occupancy was unsafe until fire-safety measures were restored and a renewed certificate obtained.
- Advocate General Mitra – Asserted that fire-safety norms were breached, including LPG storage.
On-the-Ground Reports
During the August billboard removal, private guards and party supporters clashed with police and municipal officials, underscoring tensions over the building’s use and drawing public attention to the fire-safety dispute.
What’s Next
The fire department must serve a new notice to the Trinamool Congress, inspect the sixth and seventh floors, and report any remaining shortcomings. Persistent deficiencies could trigger further legal action.