New Delhi, May 26, 2023 – The Supreme Court of India has stayed the order of the Calcutta High Court, which imposed a cost of Rs 25 lakh on Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee. The cost was imposed while dismissing his plea seeking the recall of a previous order pertaining to the probe into the school jobs scam case.
A vacation bench comprising Justices J K Maheshwari and P S Narasimha observed that while the high court had considered the points raised by Banerjee in his plea, the imposition of the cost may not have been warranted. However, the bench also noted that it does not mean that no cost can be imposed at all. The bench considered the order as balanced and fair and decided to stay the imposition of the cost. It has listed the matter for further hearing in July.
Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing Abhishek Banerjee, pointed out the “errors apparent” in the high court order and requested the Supreme Court’s intervention. The bench issued notice and asked for a response from the opposing party. The matter will be taken up for hearing after the vacation period.
The school jobs scam case gained attention when Abhishek Banerjee’s name was mentioned in a complaint filed by Kuntal Ghosh, a local businessman and an accused in the scam. Ghosh alleged that central investigating agencies were pressuring him to name Banerjee, who is also the general secretary of the Trinamool Congress, in the case.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) have been conducting investigations into the alleged irregularities in school recruitment. Banerjee has been summoned and questioned by both agencies in connection with the cases. He sought protection from coercive action by the probe agencies and requested that the Supreme Court intervene in the matter.
Previously, on April 28, the Supreme Court had directed the reassignment of the West Bengal school jobs scam case to another judge of the Calcutta High Court after expressing displeasure over Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay’s interview to a television news channel, where he spoke about the controversy surrounding the case. The bench mentioned that the high court, after the reassignment, considered the points raised in the applications, including those filed by Abhishek Banerjee, and concluded that interference was not warranted.
The Supreme Court’s decision to stay the imposition of the cost on Abhishek Banerjee provides temporary relief to the Trinamool Congress leader in the ongoing legal battle. The case has attracted significant attention due to its political implications, as Banerjee is the nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The final outcome of the case will be determined when the matter is heard by the Supreme Court in July.
