The Bar Council of India (BCI) today has sought detailed information from the Bar Council of West Bengal regarding the enrolment and practice status of former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee after reports of her appearance before the Calcutta High Court wearing advocate’s robes and white bands.

In a letter dated May 14, 2026, addressed to the Secretary of the State Bar Council of West Bengal, the BCI stated that it had taken note of media reports indicating that Mamata Banerjee appeared before the Calcutta High Court in legal attire.

“It has been brought to the notice of the Bar Council of India, through various media reports, that Ms. Mamata Banerjee, former Chief Minister of West Bengal, appeared today before the Hon’ble High Court at Calcutta wearing advocate’s robes / legal attire, including white bands.”

The BCI referred to the Bar Council of India Rules governing standards of professional conduct and dress to be worn by advocates appearing before courts and tribunals.

The letter noted that Mamata Banerjee served as Chief Minister of West Bengal from 2011 to 2026 and sought verification of her factual status regarding enrolment, practice, suspension and resumption of practice, if any.

The BCI directed the State Bar Council to furnish details, including:

• Her enrolment number, if enrolled with the State Bar Council of West Bengal.
• The date of her enrolment with the State Bar Council of West Bengal.
• Whether her name presently continues on the State Roll of Advocates maintained by the State Bar Council of West Bengal.
• Whether she had, at any point during her tenure as Chief Minister of West Bengal, given any intimation of voluntary suspension/suspension of practice/cessation from practice.
• If any such intimation was given, the date on which it was received by the State Bar Council, along with a copy of the relevant application/intimation and order / noting, if any.
• Whether any application/intimation for resumption of practice was submitted by her thereafter.
• If so, the date of such application/intimation for resumption of practice, and whether the same was accepted/taken on record by the State Bar Council.
• Whether any Certificate of Practice / relevant practice-status record in her favour is available with the State Bar Council, and whether the same is presently valid, active, suspended, or otherwise.
• Whether any other record, intimation, communication, order, or entry exists in relation to her entitlement to practise during or after her tenure as Chief Minister.

The BCIdirected that certified copies of all supporting records, correspondence files, suspension or resumption records and official notings be furnished within two days.

The BCI further directed the Secretary of the State Bar Council to certify that all documents supplied are true copies of original records maintained in the ordinary course of official business. It also instructed that the original records be preserved and kept available for inspection, if required.

Pending submission of the reply, the BCI directed that no alteration, correction, overwriting, interpolation or reconstruction of any record relating to the matter be undertaken except in accordance with law and after due intimation to the Bar Council of India.

The State Bar Council has been directed to submit its reply within two days, and treat the matter be treated as urgent.