Page 7 - Calcutta High Court

WBBSE to decide on representation for Class 10 exams timing change today

The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday directed the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE) to decide on a representation seeking cancellation of a change in the timing of the class 10 examination announced by it. The bench of Justice Biswajit Basu also asked the WBBSE to inform it about the decision on Thursday, when the matter will be heard again. The timing of the class 10 examinations of the West Bengal board, which will be held in February, was advanced by two hours, but no reason was cited. After the revision, the exams will begin at 9.45 am instead of the usual 11.45 am. A teacher moved the court challenging a January 18 notification of the board rescheduling the time of commencement of the examination from 11.45 am to 9.45 am, claiming that it will inconvenience lakhs of students who will be appearing for the examinations at numerous centres across the state. The petitioner submitted that with the examination scheduled to begin from February 2, such advancement of ..

Calcutta High Court dismisses PIL petition after attack on ED officers

The HC concluded that the ED had the technical expertise and power to protect its officers and was not 'helpless'

Calcutta High Court modifies the extent of Priyamvada Birla estate

The Harsh Lodha side claimed that the ruling was 'firmly' in its favour

Calcutta HC issues guidelines for media coverage on Bengal recruitment scam

The Court said that media's reporting should be objective, and clearly demarcate news items from opinion pieces, without casting anonymous aspersions on accused persons

Calcutta HC quashes penalty order on e-way bill that expired in 9 hours

Authorities could not prove that petitioner intended to evade tax, says court

ED can consider issuing fresh summons to Abhishek if not satisfied: HC

The Calcutta High Court has said that the Enforcement Directorate can consider issuing fresh summons to TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee if it is not satisfied with the documents submitted by him in connection with the alleged school jobs scam in West Bengal. The ED had on Wednesday summoned Banerjee to appear before it here on October 9, after he skipped the October 3 summons to participate in a TMC protest rally in New Delhi, demanding immediate release of central funds due to the state. Hearing an appeal by the Diamond Harbour MP challenging an order of a single bench that had directed the ED to ensure the investigation process on October 3 is not hampered, a division bench said the agency can fix a time limit for Banerjee to submit documents as required by it. The division bench presided by Justice Soumen Sen on Wednesday suggested that the ED can consider summoning Banerjee if it is not satisfied with the documents submitted by him to the investigators. The probe agency is scheduled t

'Legal terrorism:' Calcutta HC calls out women for filing fake cases

The Calcutta High Court said that Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code had been introduced to strike out the dowry menace from the society

SC sets aside Calcutta HC order on registration of FIR against Suvendu

The Supreme Court on Friday set aside an order of the Calcutta High Court which had said that the West Bengal Police can register an FIR against BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, if they are satisfied that offence was made out, on a complaint accusing him of promoting enmity between different groups. A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud observed that it would have been appropriate for the high court to grant an opportunity to Adhikari to file a counter affidavit in the matter before issuing the interim direction in its July 20 order. "We request the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court to hear afresh and to facilitate that, the order of July 20 shall stand set aside," the bench, also comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, said. The top court passed the order on an appeal filed by Adhikari challenging the July 20 order passed by a division bench of the high court. Earlier, a single judge of the high court, in its orders passed in September 2021 and December 202

Calcutta HC Port Blair bench fines Lt Guv of Andamans, suspends chief secy

In a significant development, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Chief Secretary Keshav Chandra was suspended while Lt. Governor DK Joshi fined Rs 5 lakh (which he has to bear from his own fund) on Thursday for not complying with an earlier order by the Port Blair bench of the Calcutta High Court on releasing benefits to workers. The earlier order passed on December 19 last year had awarded higher pay and DA to nearly 4,000 Daily Rated Mazdoors (DRMs) employed by the island administration. Speaking to PTI, Advocate Gopala Binnu Kumar, who appeared on behalf of the Andaman Sarvajanik Nirman Vibhag Mazdoor Sangh, welcomed the court's decision. "I welcome the court's decision. The administration headed by the chief secretary and the lieutenant governor were found guilty by the court for non-compliance of its order to release the benefit of 1/30th pay plus dearness allowances for DRMs which is pending since 2017," he said. While elaborating about the case, he said, "There are nearly 4,000 DRM

Loan granted to credit card holder is exempt from IGST: Calcutta HC

Interest on loans exempt from IGST but provision is not available to credit card services, says government notification

Cong moves HC over panchayat poll violence, seeks compensation for victims

The Calcutta High Court on Monday allowed senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury to file a petition seeking compensation to victims of panchayat poll violence in West Bengal and an investigation into it by an independent agency. Submitting personally before the bench presided by Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam, Chowdhury, the state Congress president, alleged that entire West Bengal was ravaged by unprecedented violence during the elections held on July 8. Claiming that most of the deceased belonged to the poor, vulnerable and underprivileged sections of society, he prayed before the court that the next of kin of the deceased and the injured be given monetary compensation. He also sought an investigation into the incidents of violence, including killings and use of firearms and crude bombs, by an independent agency. The bench, also comprising Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya, granted leave to him to file the petition. Chowdhury prayed for granting some pecuniary benefit so that t

Cong leader seeks urgent hearing of HC to declare rural polls null and void

Congress leader Kaustav Bagchi said he made a representation to the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court seeking an urgent hearing of a prayer seeking that Saturday's panchayat elections in West Bengal be declared null and void on account of violence and killings. Six people were killed till noon since the panchayat polls started at 7 am and another three died in alleged poll-related violence since midnight in the state. Seeking constitution of a special bench for an urgent hearing on Saturday, Bagchi, who is also a lawyer, said he has made a representation to the Chief Justice. He prayed that the rural polls in the state be declared null and void. "I have prayed that the court take suo motu cognisance of the violence and killings and violation of the high court's earlier orders to ensure free and fair polls," he said.

No illegality in guv appointing VCs in state-run universities: Calcutta HC

The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday said that there is no illegality in the orders issued by the West Bengal governor appointing interim vice-chancellors in 11 state-run universities in his capacity as ex-officio chancellor of these institutions. The court held that the chancellor has the power to appoint vice-chancellors as it has been laid down in relevant enactments. It was claimed by the petitioner and also the state government that the orders appointing the vice-chancellors to the universities were illegal as the higher education department was not consulted by Governor C V Ananda Bose before giving such appointments. The petitioner had alleged that contrary to the proposal given by the higher education minister, the chancellor had made a series of appointments of vice-chancellors without any consultation with him. The court said that when the final decision is with the governor, who is the appointing authority of the vice-chancellors, the manner, mode or method of consultati

Cal HC sets aside probe order into tampering with rural poll nominations

A division bench of the Calcutta High Court on Monday set aside a single bench direction to the CBI to probe into an allegation of tampering with documents and misrepresenting information provided in nomination papers of two panchayat poll candidates in Howrah district. The court, however, directed the West Bengal police to inquire into the matter under the supervision of a one-man commission of Justice (retd) Debiprosad Dey. The order of the division bench presided by Justice Arijit Banerjee came on an appeal by the state government challenging the direction of the single bench for CBI investigation. The police were directed by the division bench to file a report on the enquiry after three weeks before the single judge, before whom the petition was initially moved. Panchayat elections, however, are scheduled to be held in West Bengal on July 8. Justice Amrita Sinha had on June 21 directed the CBI to probe the allegations by July 5 and to file a report before the court on July 7.

822 companies of central forces for Bengal rural polls: SEC to Calcutta HC

The State Election Commission (SEC) on Friday informed Calcutta High Court that it has requisitioned 485 companies of central forces in addition to 337 companies already asked for, taking the total to 822 companies for the July 8 panchayat polls in West Bengal. Hearing a contempt petition that the high court's orders were willfully disobeyed by the commission, a division bench presided by Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam directed the SEC to file an affidavit stating whether it has complied with the court's orders with regard to holding free and fair panchayat polls or there was any attempt to make the orders unworkable at different stages. SEC counsel Kishore Dutta submitted before the bench that the commission has sent a letter to the Union Home ministry seeking 485 companies of central forces in addition to the requisition already sent for 315 and 22 companies, taking the total to 822 companies. The court had on June 21 directed the SEC to requisition more than 82,000 central forces .

MHA offers to deploy 337 companies of central forces for WB panchayat polls

The State Election Commission (SEC) made a requisition for 822 companies for the upcoming WB panchayat polls to be held on July 8

Calcutta HC directs EC to deploy more Central forces than in 2013

The court observed that there are more districts now compared to 2013, and it is going to be a single-phased election while in 2013 there were five phases of elections

WB panchayat polls: Contempt plea filed at HC on central forces deployment

Two separate contempt of court petitions have been filed at division bench of HC's Chief Justice Sivagnanam against State EC for not adhering to earlier order of same bench for deployment of army

WB Panchayat polls: SC to hear plea against deployment of central forces

The Supreme Court agreed to hear on Tuesday a plea challenging an order of the Calcutta High Court directing the State Election Commission (SEC) to requisition and deploy central forces across West Bengal for the panchayat elections. The matter was mentioned on Monday before a vacation bench of Justices Surya Kant and M M Sundresh by senior advocate Meenakshi Arora who sought an urgent hearing. Arora, who was appearing for the SEC, told the appeal against the order was filed on Friday last but was not taken up. The high court on June 15 had directed the SEC to requisition and deploy central forces across West Bengal for the panchayat elections within 48 hours. The court had noted that no appreciable steps have been taken ever since an order was passed by it on June 13 to deploy central forces in sensitive areas for the poll process. The high court had directed the SEC to requisition the deployment of central forces for all the districts in the state which were rocked by violence o

Narada sting operation: HC gives CBI 4 months to complete TMC MP probe

Calcutta High Court's single judge-bench of Justice Rajasekhar Mantha on Wednesday gave a deadline to the CBI to complete its probe against Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha member Aparupa Poddar