Page 4 - Calcutta High Court

WB school jobs row: SC to hear pleas challenging HC verdict on Sept 24

The Supreme Court on Tuesday said it would hear on September 24 the pleas of the West Bengal government and others challenging a Calcutta High Court order that invalidated the appointment of 25,753 teachers and non-teaching staff in state government and aided schools. A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said it may not be able to hear the batch of pleas, listed on Tuesday, due to the hearing of some other matters during the day. "We will list it on September 24," the CJI said. Earlier, the top court had said that it will hear the pleas on September 10 and granted last opportunity to the parties to file their responses to the petitions by August 16. The bench had also asked the nodal counsel -- Astha Sharma, who represents the state government, and Shalini Kaul, Partha Chatterjee and Shekhar Kumar-- to prepare a common compilation of the records in electronic form and ensure that the judgments cited by the parties were part of

Medic rape-murder case: SC urges doctors to return to work by 5 on Tuesday

The Supreme Court on Monday commenced hearing a suo motu case related to the rape and murder of a postgraduate medic at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. A bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra is hearing the matter. On August 22, the apex court had tore into the Kolkata Police over the delay in registering the unnatural death of the woman doctor, who was raped and killed at the RG Kar Hospital, calling it "extremely disturbing", and questioned the sequence of events and the timing of its procedural formalities. The top court had earlier constituted a 10-member National Task Force (NTF) to formulate a protocol for ensuring the safety and security of doctors and other health care professionals. Terming the incident as "horrific", the apex court had excoriated the state government over the delay in filing the FIR and allowing thousands of people to vandalise the state-run facility. The alleged rape and murder of th

HC seeks CBI report on nasty social media posts on medic rape-murder victim

The Calcutta High Court on Thursday directed the CBI to file a report by September 18 on detestable posts being made on social media regarding the rape-murder victim of R G Kar Medical College and Hospital. The court noted that nasty comments, which are far from being acceptable to any member of the society, have been made with the photograph of the victim as found in the copies of the offending posts provided by the petitioner. The body of the on-duty trainee doctor was found in the seminar room of the state-run hospital on August 9, triggering nationwide outrage. The CBI is investigating the case from the second week of August on an order of the high court. The petitioner prayed in the PIL that the CBI be directed to investigate the cyber offences in connection with the "unfortunate and brutal incident." The court asked the Additional Solicitor General Asok Kumar Chakrabarti, representing the central agency, whether it could find a way to block these types of posts. The division

Kolkata rape-murder: Calcutta HC dismisses PIL against BJP's 'Bangla Bandh'

The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday dismissed a plea against the 12-hour 'Bangla Bandh' called by the BJP since the petitioner was debarred perpetually from filing public interest litigations (PIL) before the court in a previous order. Petitioner Sanjoy Das, who claimed to be a lawyer practising at the high court, sought that the bandh be declared illegal. A division bench, presided by Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam, dismissed the PIL, as the court in its previous order perpetually debarred Das from presenting any PIL. The bench, also comprising Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya, in that order rejected Das's PIL, where it held that he had made false statements about himself in that petition, seeking a change of roster of a particular judge presiding over police inaction/overaction matters. The bench also imposed a cost of Rs 50,000 on Das in connection with that petition. Maintaining that the petitioner has abused the process of this court, attempted to intimidate the office of the ch

Doc rape-murder: SIT gives hospital's financial irregularities docs to CBI

On Friday, the Calcutta High Court transferred the investigation of financial irregularities involving Ghosh, previously handled by a Special Investigation Team (SIT), to the CBI

Doctor murder: Cal HC adjourns hearing PILs since SC siezed of matter

The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday adjourned till September 4 the joint hearing of several PILs over the alleged rape and murder of a doctor in Kar Medical College and Hospital and vandalism by miscreants at the institution since the Supreme Court is already seized of the matter. Amid spiralling nationwide protests over the rape and murder of the trainee doctor at the hospital, the apex court on Tuesday constituted a 10-member National Task Force (NTF) to formulate a protocol for ensuring the safety and security of doctors and other healthcare professionals. The SC also asked the CBI and the West Bengal government to file status reports on August 22, on the progress of their separate investigations into the alleged rape and murder of the woman postgraduate trainee doctor at Kar Medical College and Hospital and the August 15 vandalism and violence there respectively. A division bench presided by Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam said that since the Apex Court orders on the issue covered

SC overturns Calcutta HC verdict, slams remarks on girls' 'sexual urges'

Supreme Court set aside Calcutta High Court's controversial ruling advising girls to control 'sexual urges' and restored conviction in Pocso rape case

Absolute failure of state machinery: Cal HC on vandalism at RG Kar hospital

The Calcutta High Court on Friday observed that mob violence at the R G Kar Medical College and Hospital was an absolute failure of state machinery in West Bengal. The court directed the police and the hospital authority to file affidavits on the incident. A division bench presided by Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam said it was hard to believe that the police intelligence did not have information about the gathering of 7,000 people at the health facility when the state's lawyer told the court that a mob of such number had assembled at the hospital in the early hours of Thursday. The court directed the police and the administrator of the hospital to file two separate affidavits narrating the true state of affairs and all connected matters on the next hearing date on August 21. The bench, also comprising Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya, said the police should place on record the entire sequence of events that led to the vandalism in the hospital. The investigating team of CBI was also .

RG Kar Hospital vandalism: HC fumes at Mamata govt; CBI to probe mob attack

Kolkata doctor's death: The court criticised the Mamata Banerjee government, questioning how a mob of 7,000 could breach the RG Kar Hospital on August 15 without it being a state failure

CBI takes over investigation into Kolkata doctor's rape-murder case

Officials from Delhi along with forensic scientists to reach Bengal's capital today

Doctor death: Why was the case not lodged as murder, HC asks Bengal govt

The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday asked why a murder case was not registered at the outset and an unnatural death case was initiated into the alleged rape and murder of a woman doctor at state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital here. Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam put forth the question to the West Bengal government lawyer when he claimed that an unnatural death case was registered, as there is no immediate complaint of murder. The division bench presided by the Chief Justice said the body of the postgraduate trainee was not found on the roadside, and the superintendent or the principal of the hospital could have filed the complaint. The body of the doctor, who was allegedly raped and murdered inside a seminar hall of the RG Kar hospital, was found on Friday morning. A civic volunteer was arrested in this connection on Saturday. The Chief Justice also said the murder was so gruesome that the doctors and interns were justified in venting their anguish. Junior doctors and intern

Cal HC to hear PIL seeking CBI probe into doctor's rape and murder case

A PIL seeking a CBI investigation into the alleged rape and murder of a woman doctor at Kar Medical College and Hospital will be heard by the Calcutta High Court on Tuesday. The body of the woman doctor was found inside the seminar hall of the hospital in north Kolkata on Friday. A preliminary autopsy report has indicated sexual abuse before she was killed. The petition, along with some other petitions with similar prayers, will be heard on Tuesday, a division bench presided by Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam directed on Monday. The petitioner's counsel prayed for transfer of investigation into the gruesome murder of the woman postgraduate trainee, who was also allegedly raped, at the state-run Kar Medical College and Hospital to the CBI from the city police. Counsel Phiroze Edulji alleged that a faulty investigation was being carried out by the police and submitted before the division bench, also comprising Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya, that he will place arguments before the court

SC collegium suggests extending tenure of 9 judges of Calcutta HC for a yr

The Supreme Court collegium headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud on Wednesday recommended to the Centre that the term of nine additional judges of the Calcutta High Court be extended by one year. Besides the CJI, Justices Sanjiv Khanna and B R Gavai are part of the collegium which decide the names for high court judgeship. The collegium did not recommend the names of the judges for appointment as permanent judges of the high court at this stage. "The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the names of Shri Justices (i) Biswaroop Chowdhury, (ii) Partha Sarathi Sen, (iii) Prasenjit Biswas, (iv) Uday Kumar, (v) Ajay Kumar Gupta, (vi) Supratim Bhattacharya, (vii) Partha Sarathi Chatterjee, (viii) Apurba Sinha Ray, and (ix) Md. Shabbar Rashidi, Additional Judges of the High Court at Calcutta, for appointment as Additional Judges for a fresh term of one year," the apex court said in its resolution. The resolution said the high court collegium, on April 29, had unanimously recommende

WB school jobs row: SC gives last chance to file responses against HC order

The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted a last opportunity to file responses to pleas challenging a Calcutta High Court order invalidating the appointment of 25,753 teachers and non-teaching staff in government and aided schools in West Bengal. The pleas challenging the high court order also include the one filed by the West Bengal government. The top court, which has been hearing 33 petitions pertaining to the high court's April 22 judgment on the matter, has fixed them for a final hearing after three weeks. At the outset, a bench comprising Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, Justice J B Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra were informed that the response affidavits have not been filed by many parties. The West Bengal government has also not filed its reply in cases where it is made a respondent. "Alright, we will give them one opportunity... no counter (affidavit) filed till date. In the event that any of the respondents seek to file they shall file on or before two weeks, if no .

SC rejects WB's plea against CBI probe into allegations in Sandeshkhali

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea filed by the West Bengal government challenging the Calcutta High Court's order which directed a CBI investigation into the allegations of crimes against women and land grabbing in Sandeshkhali. "Why should the state be interested in protecting someone?" a bench of Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan observed, adding that on the last date of hearing, the counsel appearing for the state said the matter be adjourned after the apex court asked this specific query. "Thank you. Dismissed," the bench said. The top court was hearing the state government's plea challenging the Calcutta High Court's April 10 order. While hearing the plea on April 29, the apex court asked the West Bengal government as to why the state should come in as a petitioner for "protecting the interest" of some private individuals. In its plea before the apex court, the state government said the high court's order demoralised the entire state machinery, including the .

Hearing of defamation suit against Bengal CM adjourned till Thursday

The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday adjourned till Thursday hearing of a defamation suit by West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over alleged comments made by her and some other TMC leaders. The matter will appear for hearing on Thursday after Bose's lawyer makes necessary changes in the application. Claiming that baseless allegations were being made against the governor, Bose's lawyer also prayed for an interim injunction on further statements by the defendants in the defamation suit. Justice Krishna Rao noted that publications referred to in the suit have not been made party in it. The lawyer for Bose sought time to file a fresh application, incorporating necessary changes. Granting permission, the high court said the matter will be taken up for hearing on Thursday. Bose had filed a defamation case against Banerjee on June 28, a day after she claimed women complained to her that they were afraid to visit the Raj Bhavan because of the ...

Following HC order, Sebi to auction 22 properties of 7 companies on July 10

Markets regulator Sebi on Monday said it has lined up 22 properties of seven companies -- including Pailan Group, Vibgyor Group and GBC Industrial Corp group -- for auction on July 10 to recover money illegally collected from investors. Other firms, whose properties will also be auctioned, are Tower Infotech Group, Waris Group, Teachers' Welfare Credit and Holding Group, and Annex Infrastructure India Ltd. The regulator has initiated the process for the sale of assets of the companies as per orders by the Calcutta High Court. Justice Sailendra Prasad Talukdar has been appointed as the one-man committee for liquidating the assets of the firms and repaying the investors. The move is part of Sebi's effort to recover investors' money. The properties include plots and a flat in West Bengal and they will be auctioned at a reserve price of Rs 45.47 crore, according to a notice issued by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi). Adroit Technical Services Ltd has been engaged by t

Supreme Court rejects BJP appeal against Calcutta HC ban on anti-TMC ads

Lok Sabha elections 2024: Calling the BJP advertisements 'disparaging', the top court urged restraint, reminding that political adversaries aren't enemies

LS polls: SC to hear on Monday BJP's plea against Calcutta HC order on ads

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Monday a plea filed by the BJP challenging a Calcutta High Court order that had refused to interfere with a single-judge verdict restraining the party from issuing advertisements that are allegedly "violative" of the Model Code of Conduct during the Lok Sabha polls. According to the cause list of May 27 uploaded on the apex court website, a vacation bench of Justices J K Maheshwari and K V Viswanathan is scheduled to hear the plea. On May 22, a division bench of the high court had said it was not inclined to entertain the appeal against the interim order passed by the single-judge bench. The single-judge bench on May 20 had restrained the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from publishing advertisements that violated the MCC until June 4, the day the Lok Sabha poll results are scheduled to be declared. The court had also restrained the saffron party from publishing the advertisements mentioned by the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal

WB to move higher court to challenge HC order on OBC certificates: Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday announced that her government will approach a higher court, challenging the Calcutta High Court order that cancelled all OBC certificates issued in the state since 2010. Addressing an election rally in Sagar in South 24 Parganas district, she said the state government would appeal to the higher court against the order after summer vacation. We do not accept the order that scrapped OBC certificates. We will contest at a higher court after summer vacation," Banerjee said. The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday struck down as illegal the OBC status of several classes in West Bengal granted since 2010, sparking a political debate in the middle of the Lok Sabha elections. The court observed that the inclusion of 77 classes of Muslims in the list of backward categories was to treat them as a vote bank. Banerjee urged electors "not to cast a single vote to the BJP or any other party except the TMC so that the INDIA bloc can form a govern