Calcutta High Court asks Abhishek Banerjee to provide list of BJP-supporting judges

The Calcutta High Court observed on Thursday that Mamata All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) MP Abhishek Banerjee should provide a list of judges who are on the side of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and those who support the All India Trinamool Congress. According to a Hindustan Times report, the bench of Justice Krishna Rao made strict remarks on the matter.

During the hearing in court, the bench said, "Ask your client. Which judges are with the BJP? Please provide a list. According to the statement, your client is very intelligent. Let your client provide a list of judges associated with the BJP and AITC."

The entire matter is linked to a petition filed by Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee. After the change of government in West Bengal, his security cover was reduced from Z+ category to X category, which Banerjee challenged in the High Court. Banerjee had made sharp attacks on the delays caused by the judiciary in this case, following which the court made this observation.

On November 7, while addressing a public meeting on his birthday, Abhishek Banerjee allegedly stated that the hearing of his petition regarding the reduction of security was conducted only "partially". He alleged that the BJP had exerted pressure in this matter. Banerjee had said, "I filed a petition in the Calcutta High Court. It was partially heard. This matter was to be heard again on October 13. Perhaps the BJP exerted some pressure. This matter was before Justice Krishna Rao. He heard the matter partially. Subsequently, in the vacation bench, this matter was listed as item 16. He took cases up to item 15 and then he stood up (signalling a break)."

On Thursday, the state government representative, Additional Advocate General Bilwadla Bhattacharya, presented a video clip and transcript of these statements by Banerjee in court. He read excerpts of the transcript in the courtroom. Banerjee had allegedly said, "A part of the judiciary is playing the role of a mute spectator. We have nowhere to go. Today this storm is raging across Bengal because the High Court and Supreme Court exist... these goons are gaining courage only because the judiciary is keeping cases pending. If I have to go to jail for speaking the truth, I am ready."

Additional Advocate General Bhattacharya told the High Court that these comments by Abhishek Banerjee amount to criminal contempt of court. He argued that Banerjee had made allegations against the judge and the court cannot be deceived. He added that there may be political enmity, but the court is above all that.

On the other hand, senior advocate Shoaib Alam, representing Banerjee in the security-related petition, argued that this matter has no connection with the petition.

BJP spokesperson and advocate Priyanka Tibrewal described Abhishek Banerjee's statements as "very shameful". She told the media, "This is very shameful. They thought they were the top leaders of the state. Now that their party is not in power, they have lost their sense. The law operates in its own way and no one is above it. If someone speaks against judges, it is certainly contempt."

Meanwhile, Mamata All India Trinamool Congress leader and lawyer Baiswanour Chatterjee drew attention to the pendency of cases in the judiciary. He told the media, "I do not know under what circumstances Banerjee said what. I cannot comment on the observation made by the bench in the courtroom. But I can say that some citizens are troubled by a section of the judiciary for various reasons. Thousands of cases are pending in the courts. People are not getting relief. Many people have expressed their pain on various platforms."