Judicial Panel Says Arrests Alone Won’t End Egg‑Throwing Violence

During a hearing on June 30, the Calcutta High Court ruled that simple detention of those caught throwing eggs at politicians would not eradicate the practice. The Division Bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice Tapas Chakravarty and Justice Partha Sarathi Chakraborty, examined a public‑interest litigation filed by the Trinamool Congress alleging that party leaders were subjected to egg attacks while police officers observed without intervening.

The court rejected the petitioner's plea for an interim order but mandated that the state submit a report outlining preventive measures taken since the June 4 election results. The judges stressed that a holistic approach—combining swift legal action, improved crowd‑control tactics, and sustained public education—was essential to curb the trend.

State officials argued that the government consistently appeals to citizens to refrain from taking the law into their own hands, but admitted challenges arise when formal complaints are absent. In response, the petitioner's counsel, represented by former Lok Sabha member Kalyan Banerjee, accused the police of being the chief facilitator of the egg‑throwing episodes, citing incidents at secure locations like airports.