Calcutta High Court judges argue openly in flyover tragedy case

Stunning those present, two judges of the Calcutta High Court on Tuesday were locked in an open argument in the court room following differences over granting of bail to the accused in the March 31 Kolkata flyover collapse tragedy that took 26 lives.

A division bench of Justice Ashim Kumar Roy and Justice C.S. Karnan had on May 20, heard the bail plea of the officials of the Hyderabad-based IVRCL, engaged in constructing the flyover near Posta and rejected the pleas.

On Tuesday, Justice Karnan had a change of heart and chose to differ with Justice Roy, saying he was in favour of granting bail to the accused.

Justice Roy raised an objection, pointing out that they were sitting in the court as part of the same division bench.

Justice Karnan stuck to his stand saying after taking a second look at the papers, he felt the accused should be given bail.

The court's senior counsel tried to intervene and solve the dispute, but failed.

The judges then left the court room and went to their respective chambers.

The matter will now be put before Chief Justice Manjulla Chellur.

Later, the Calcutta High Court Bar Association convened an urgent general body meeting and decided to stay away from any judicial proceedings at Justice Karnan's court.

--IANS

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