Calcutta HC issues contempt notice against TMC Minister

Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday took suo motu cognisance of the remarks made by the Trinamool Congress Minister Becharam Manna at Singur on December 2 and issued a contempt rule against him.

The Court directed Mr. Manna to be present before the Court on December 18 and defend the remarks made by him at a public rally at Singur in the State’s Hooghly district on December 2.

Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, senior advocate of the Court who pleaded on the behalf of lawyers who brought the matter to the notice of Court said that Mr. Manna’s comments “directly interfered with administration of justice and were an attempt to scandalise the image of the judiciary.”

He presented before the Court the newspaper reports referring to Mr. Manna’s remarks of the rally held at Singur. The Court also directed the newspapers that carried the story and television channels that telecasted the programme to file affidavit before the Court and submit materials collected by their journalist.

Mr. Manna remarks which went on record sparked widespread criticism, even as his senior ministerial colleague Partha Chatterjee tried to do some damage-control on Monday.

The Court has earlier admitted a petition where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had made objectionable comments about the Judiciary. The matter is pending before the High Court.