Calcutta High Court urged to take action against CM Mamata Banerjee for allegedly saying Court is "sold out"

A group of lawyers on Thursday urged the Calcutta High Court to take suo motu cognisance of remarks made by West Bengal Chief Minister (CM) Mamata Banerjee against the High Court..The CM had allegedly said that High Court has been "sold out." The remarks were reportedly made in the wake of the High Court's decision to quash the appointment of around 24,000 teachers in its verdict in the school jobs for cash case. .Senior Advocate and Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI (M)] leader Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya today urged the Bench of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya to strict action against the Chief Minister for her "contemptuous" statements. "I am praying suo motu cognisance be taken. Unless court becomes strict on this ... If I have to file (a criminal contempt) petition, I will have to go through the Advocate General's permission, which will not be granted in any point of time ... I can file an affidavit showing that these are the statements, but kindly take cognisance of this. Otherwise, every court is laughing at us - what is going on! "High Court has been purchased" (it is said). We do cases before the Hon'ble court after toiling midnight oil ... Now somebody is accusing that judges of High Court and entire High Court has been sold!" Bhattacharya submitted. .The senior lawyer added that such statements have been made persistently by Chief Minister Banerjee to belittle the court in the eyes of the public. "We will keep translations of the headings.. Now (it is reported that) 'High Court has been sold out.' That is the statement of the Hon'ble Chief Minister - not on one day, but persistently after the judgment delivered by this court. Persistent attempt! Just to make the High Court ridiculed in eye of common man. I will file an affidavit. There are English newspaper reporting. Kindly take cognisance," Bhattacharya urged the Court. .The Court, meanwhile, asked whether a petition could be filed so that there is something on the record in the matter. Bhattacharya assured that he would submit an affidavit with the reports on the Chief Minister's remarks. The senior lawyer added that he would do the needful by 2 PM..Meanwhile, two other lawyers sought to file petitions in the matter. A lawyer also submitted a representation urging the High Court calling for action against Chief Minister Banerjee for her allegedly malicious and defamatory remarks. When the matter was taken up in the afternoon, the Court granted permission to file petitions and further took on record the media reports submitted by Bhattacharya on the Chief Minister's controversial remarks.The Court then informed that all papers concerning the case would be placed before the Chief Justice on the administrative side before further action is taken. .Earlier this week, a Division Bench of the High Court had cancelled about 24,000 appointments of teaching and non-teaching staff made in 2016 by the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC). The High Court, while holding the recruitment invalid, had ordered the 24,000 candidates to return the salaries they received after being "illegally" recruited.The West Bengal government has challenged this April 22 verdict before the Supreme Court, which is yet to hear the appeal..Note: This article has been updated to include the afternoon hearing of the matter.