Supreme Court transfers West Bengal admission scam proceedings to itself, no comments on Justice Gangopadhyay yet

While transferring the proceedings relating to the fake caste certificate scam in admissions to medical colleges to itself from the Calcutta High Court, the Chief Justice of India was quick to comment that it was too early to form an unsavoury opinion as the matter involved a high court judge.

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ON Monday, a five-judge Bench of the Supreme Court transferred to itself all proceedings before the Calcutta High Court relating to the fake caste certificate scam in admissions to medical colleges, which last week led to a spat between Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay and a division Bench headed by Justice Soumen Sen.

The Bench, comprising the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dr D.Y. Chandrachud and Justices Sanjiv Khanna, B.R. Gavai, Surya Kant, and Aniruddha Bose, also directed the West Bengal government to file a status report on the investigation into the alleged scam.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, for the state government, submitted that the government had already filed many first information reports (FIRs) and many of the caste certificates had already been cancelled.

Sibal remarked that the judge in question (Justice Gangopadhyay), who is not a stranger to controversy, was unlikely to change his behaviour. The court thus really needs to think about what should be done, he added.

The CJI was quick to comment that it was too early to form an unsavoury opinion, especially since the matter involved a high court judge.

"Casting aspersions on a single judge or division Bench would not be proper. Anything we say will have an effect on impinging the dignity of the high court. We will handle it in some way," the remarked.

Sibal also informed the Bench that he would be filing a compilation of documents showing Justice Gangoupadhyay has been attending public meetings and rallies.

Senior Advocate Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi, for the general secretary of All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) and nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister and Supremo of the party Mamata Banerjee, Avishek Banerjee, drew the Bench's attention to its earlier Order whereby the court had withdrawn the case concerning the alleged teacher recruitment scam in West Bengal from Justice Gangopadhyay.

The court had done so because Justice Gangopadhyay had given an interview to the media in which he had expressed displeasure at certain comments made about the judiciary by Avishek Banerjee and warned that he would rule against Banerjee in relation to the scam.

Senior advocate Maninder Singh also appeared for certain Scheduled category groups to intervene in the matter.

Last Saturday, the Bench stayed the proceedings before the Calcutta High Court's Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay and the division Bench headed by Justice Soumen Sen in connection with the alleged caste certificate scam after contradictory Orders had been passed and distasteful comments made

What happened at the Calcutta High Court? Read the full story here.