High Court Grants Stay on Proceedings Against Doctor in Badge Controversy

The Calcutta High Court issued an interim stay in the case against Dr. Tapabrata Roy, a doctor arrested for wearing a controversial badge at the Durga Puja Carnival. The court ordered a halt on proceedings until December, while another protest carnival was held by junior doctors nearby.

The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday provided an interim reprieve to Dr. Tapabrata Roy, who was apprehended for allegedly sporting a badge with contentious captions at the Durga Puja Carnival on October 15.

Associated with the Kolkata Municipal Corporation and on duty during the state-organised event, Dr. Roy was detained and later granted bail on the same day. He sought the quashing of the ongoing criminal proceedings, initiated at the Maidan police station, led by accusations that his badge bore offensive messages, according to his attorney Jayanta Narayan Chatterjee.

Vacation Judge Justice Shampa Dutt (Paul) ordered a stay on criminal proceedings against Dr. Roy until December 4, or until further directives, premised on the severity and nature of allegations. She instructed the placement of the matter before the regular bench post-Puja vacation and mandated the state to present the case diary at the next hearing. Meanwhile, on the same day, junior doctors protested a separate incident involving a medic's tragic death at Esplanade, in proximity to the Red Road festivities.

(With inputs from agencies.)