Kolkata, September 16, 2026: The Calcutta High Court has set aside a notice issued by the West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services Department seeking the evacuation of Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee’s office on Camac Street.
The notice, issued on September 4, had directed the evacuation of parts of the building where Banerjee’s office is located, citing concerns related to compliance with fire safety requirements.
The matter came before a single-judge bench headed by Justice Krishna Rao after the notice was challenged by the Trinamool Congress. The court has now directed the Fire Department to issue a fresh notice to the party and carry out another inspection of the premises.
According to reports, the court wants the authorities to clearly communicate the fire-safety requirements and identify any shortcomings found during the inspection. The party would then be required to take the necessary measures in accordance with the directions issued by the department.
The Fire Department had earlier raised concerns over fire-safety compliance at the building. The department also informed the court that the building’s fire-safety compliance certificate had expired in August 2026.
The High Court had previously granted interim protection against the enforcement of the evacuation notice until the matter was heard further. Following Wednesday’s hearing, the original notice has been set aside, with the process now moving towards a fresh inspection and further directions on fire safety.
The development means that the immediate evacuation direction contained in the earlier fire department notice no longer remains in force, while the fire-safety compliance issue will be considered again through the fresh inspection process.
