edited by: Pathikrit Sen Gupta
Last Update: January 10, 2023, 00:06 IST
The posters described him as a ‘disgrace to the judiciary’. photo/news18
Several posters attacking Justice Rajasekhar Mantha for allegedly acting in a biased manner in favor of BJP MLA Shubhendu Adhikari were put up on the walls of the judge’s residence and nearby places in Kolkata.
Protests and posters against a Calcutta High Court judge have rocked West Bengal, sparking a face-off between political rivals Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party over the issue.
Justice Rajasekhar Mantha had to walk out of the court on Monday after a section of lawyers protested against him.
Several posters attacking Justice Mantha for allegedly acting in a biased manner in favor of BJP MLA Shubhendu Adhikari were also pasted on the walls of the judge’s residence and nearby places in South Kolkata’s Jodhpur Park. The posters called him a “disgrace of the judiciary”.
Some lawyers have even written to the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, who is the “master of roster”, complaining about Justice Mantha.
A war of words has also started between BJP and TMC on this issue.
Bharatiya Janata Party’s West Bengal co-incharge Amit Malviya tweeted targeting the state’s ruling party.
TMC wants a committed judiciary. Posters targeting Justice Rajasekhar Mantha put up all over the Calcutta High Court. Lawyers associated with TMC blocked his court. CJ had to intervene. Ask for CCTV footage for Court No. 13. Judges meeting underway to discuss attack on Judiciary… pic.twitter.com/NyZTcjILxH
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) January 9, 2023
TMC leader Vishwajit Deb rejected the allegation. “We have the highest respect for the judiciary. We do not know who put up these posters. But I have only one point to raise: Why is a bench providing security to Leader of the Opposition Shubhendu Adhikari? What happened in court on Monday could be a reaction to that. I was the Advocate General of a State for more than 10 years. I have never seen such things,” he said.
TMC leaders say that Justice Mantha stayed 26 FIRs against Shubhendu Adhikari and also directed the police not to register any further FIRs without the permission of the court.
The BJP leader’s counsel told the court that 26 FIRs were registered against the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly to prevent him from acting as a public representative.
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