SC asks Cal HC to decide TMC's billboard plea

Kolkata: The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Calcutta High Court to expeditiously decide the Trinamool Congress' challenge to the removal of a billboard from its party office on Camac Street. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, declined to interfere at this stage, noting that the matter was pending before the High Court. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the TMC, argued that the billboard was removed without notice. He also pointed out that a Haldiram's billboard at the ground-floor outlet of the building had not been removed. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the West Bengal government, questioned the maintainability of the plea, citing the availability of a writ appeal. The bench said the billboard's removal did not make the case infructuous. Justice Bagchi observed that if the removal was found to be improper, the High Court could order its restoration. The bench clarified that observations in the High Court's August 28 interim order were tentative.