Supreme Court stays Calcutta High Court proceedings in Judge Vs Judge row

A five-judge bench of the Supreme Court on Saturday held a special sitting and stayed all the proceedings before the Calcutta High Court in the fake caste certificate scam, which had triggered controversy between two judges of the same court.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Justice BR Gavai, Justice Surya Kant, and Justice Aniruddha Bose stayed the order for the CBI probe passed by single-judge Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay.

Attorney General R. Venkataramani. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for Abhishek Banerjee, and Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal appearing for the West Bengal Government all joined the Supreme Court hearing today.

Justice Surya Kant who was away in Chandigarh, however, joined through video conferencing.

The Bench had to take a call on a Saturday which is a court holiday as the row between the two judges of the Calcutta High Court was getting bitter.

The fake caste certificate scam case before the High Court became controversial after single-judge Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay who was hearing the matter, had made very strong remarks against another High Court judge Justice Soumen Sen who was hearing the appeal against Justice Gangopadhyay's order.

The Court also stayed all proceedings in the case before Justice Gangopadhyay as well as before a division bench headed by Justice Soumen Sen which was hearing the appeal against the single-judge's order.

The Top Court issued notice to the Calcutta High Court and the State of West Bengal. Ms Ashtha Sharma appearing for the State of West Bengal accepted both notices.

Pending further proceedings there shall be a stay on all proceedings before the Calcutta High Court before both the division bench and the single-judge bench. The implementation of the direction issued by the single judge Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay directing the CBI probe shall remain stayed," the Apex Court directed.(UNI)