Supreme Court Warns of Far-Reaching Consequences if Constitutional Machinery Fails in West Bengal The Supreme Court on April 23, 2026, issued a stark warning that the failure of constitutional machinery in West Bengal could lead to far-reaching consequences, including the imposition of presidential rule. The court emphasized that such a scenario would not only disrupt the balance of power but also open the door to emergency-like measures under Article 356 of the Constitution. This came amid ongoing legal battles involving the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and allegations of executive interference in a high-profile case against the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC). The case centers on the ED’s investigation into alleged coal smuggling linked to I-PAC, a political consultancy firm. On January 8, 2026, ED conducted raids at I-PAC’s office in Kolkata and the residence of co-founder Pratik Jain. The ED claimed that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her government obstructed the investigation by deploying state machinery to block the probe. The ED argued that this interference violated the principle of legal governance and undermined the rule of law. During hearings, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta asserted that the state’s actions constituted a complete breakdown of law and order. He contended that Banerjee’s alleged interference was not an isolated incident but part of a pattern of behavior, citing past instances where the government had similarly obstructed investigations. However, the Supreme Court cautioned against equating such actions with a complete collapse of the constitutional framework. Justice Anjaria hinted that the ED’s arguments could be seen as an overreach, emphasizing that Article 356 is a last resort and should not be invoked lightly.#mamata_banerjee #west_bengal #supreme_court #enforcement_directorate #pratik_jain
