Introduction:

Senior Advocate Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya has brought before the Calcutta High Court a plea to take suo moto cognizance of remarks allegedly made by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing High Court judges of bias and stating that the “HC had been purchased.” These remarks follow a ruling invalidating thousands of teaching and non-teaching jobs implicated in a cash-for-jobs scam.

Arguments:

Bhattacharya argued that the Chief Minister’s remarks amount to criminal contempt, submitting newspaper reports as evidence. He highlighted the gravity of the situation, stating that such comments ridicule the judiciary and undermine public trust in the legal system. He also stressed that since the Attorney General would not grant consent to proceed against the CM, it was imperative for the Court to take suo moto cognizance.

Court’s Judgment:

The Calcutta High Court has directed for affidavits to be filed in the matter and listed it for hearing. This indicates a proactive stance by the Court in addressing the allegations and upholding the integrity of the judiciary.