Supreme Court Stays Kolkata High Court Verdict On Mukul Roy Anti-Defection Case.

New Delhi; January 2026: Today, on 16th January 2026, The Supreme Court has stayed the operation of a Calcutta High Court judgment in the anti-defection case involving senior Trinamool Congress leader Mukul Roy, and has issued notice to West Bengal Assembly Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari and other respondents.

The interim order was passed by the apex court while considering a challenge to the High Court decision that had set aside the Speaker’s order disqualifying Mukul Roy as a Member of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly. The Supreme Court directed the respondents to file their replies and listed the matter for further hearing.

The dispute traces back to a 2022 order of the West Bengal Assembly Speaker, who disqualified Roy on the ground that he had defected from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to the Trinamool Congress (TMC) after being elected as an MLA. The Calcutta High Court had later overturned this decision, holding that the disqualification was unsustainable.

During the hearing, the Supreme Court expressed reservations about the reliance placed on electronic and video evidence in the High Court’s ruling. The Bench observed that such material requires careful judicial scrutiny, particularly in an era where digital manipulation and artificial intelligence tools can affect the authenticity of evidence.

By staying the High Court’s judgment, the Supreme Court has effectively preserved the status quo until it undertakes a detailed examination of the legal issues surrounding the anti-defection proceedings. The matter will be taken up again after the parties file their respective responses.

Team Maverick.