Lawmakers in West Bengal will no longer be allowed to enter the state assembly accompanied by personal security guards, Speaker Biman Banerjee said on Monday, amid a legal dispute over security arrangements for ruling and opposition members.

Banerjee said the only exception would be the chief minister’s security detail, noting that they do not carry arms inside the assembly. Similar rules are in place in India’s Lok Sabha and other state legislatures, he added.

The decision comes after the Calcutta High Court sought affidavits from Banerjee and Assembly Secretary Sukumar Roy following a petition filed by Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari and BJP legislator Shankar Ghosh. The petitioners argued that while ruling Trinamool Congress lawmakers were allowed to enter with state police personnel, BJP legislators were denied entry with their Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) guards.

Justice Shampa Sarkar of the high court questioned the disparity, asking why Trinamool lawmakers were permitted to bring state police into the assembly but BJP members could not be accompanied by central force personnel.

Banerjee’s announcement came on the opening day of a special assembly session. He said the new rule would apply equally to all lawmakers regardless of party affiliation.

BJP legislators, who typically receive central security, have said their guards are required to remain outside the assembly complex during sessions, housed in temporary camps. Trinamool legislators, by contrast, are protected by state police.