The election has been peacefully held on 9th May, 2026, at a neutral venue approved by the Joint Special Officers, when 79% of eligible voters had physically cast their votes by secret ballots. Pictures by Sanchita Chatterjee, BS News Agency. Sanchita Chatterjee, BS News Agency: The ongoing internal strife in the management of Travel Agents Association of Bengal (TAAB) has finally been resolved with a new governing body being elected by astounding majority, following a decisive order from the Calcutta High Court. TAAB has its elections every two years, as per its exist existing by-laws. Due to differences among members, the Governing Body which came into being with the consent of majority members on 25th October, 2025 at the Annual General Meeting of the Association was questioned in a civil suit before the City Civil Court at Calcutta.
The Committee formed last year, which enjoyed unanimous support of 89 members who were present at the Annual General Meeting, was subjected to an injunction passed by the Learned City Civil Court at Calcutta on 12th November, 2025, restraining them from representing as Committee members of the Association.
The defending Committee escalated their challenge against the injunction order before the Hon'ble High Court, Calcutta and also separately applied before the Learned City Civil Court on the ground that a dispute sought to be raised by only two members against a committee that had been chosen by 89 members would not be maintainable in law. It was also pointed out by the defending Committee before the Ld. City Civil Court at Calcutta that not a single member of the Association other than Chowdhury Travels and Ekanto Apon, who were the plaintiffs before City Civil Court at Calcutta, had supported their action.
The interim injunction had deprived the Association of its administration and its daily functions, as also the pursuit of its objectives had come to a standstill without a Governing Body in office.
The Hon'ble High Court, Calcutta, appreciating the stand of the defending Committee, directed that a fresh election be held for 17 positions in the Governing Body of TAAB, under the supervision of two Joint Special Officers, who were appointed by the Hon'ble High Court, Calcutta.
On 23rd February, 2026, the Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court appointed Mr Biswa Brata Basumallick, Advocate, and Mr. Ritzu Ghoshal, Senior Advocate, both esteerned lawyers of the Calcutta High Court, as Joint Special Officers, with a direction to hold the election for the Governing Body of the Association within 10th May, 2026.
The Committee of the Association which had held office since 2023, had been directed by the Hon'ble High Court, Calcutta, to assist the Joint Special Officers on the procedure for conducting of election.
The Joint Special Officers, actively assisted by the previous committee elected in 2023, held numcrous meetings for finalising the list of valid voters and examining eligibility of candidates which laid the foundation for transparent and fair election..
12 out of 17 positions had been filled uncontested based on nominations filed, and without there being any second candidate for those posts. Ultimately, election was held for five (5) positions in the Governing Body, being President, Vice President (south), General Secretary, Assistant Secretary and Treasurer.