Criminal contempt notice to Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)

The Calcutta High Court issued a criminal contempt notice to Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) state Secretary Biman Bose for his remarks that the judiciary was taking biased stand on the Nandigram issue.
The High Court also issued notices to Shyamal Chakrabarty and Binoy Konar and asked all of them to submit their replies explaining public statements in which they had condemned the courts role.
Biman Bose had said: “We feel the court has interfered in the state’s domain. If the High Court has the last word on everything, what is the use of having a legislature and an executive? Will the court decide the government’s course of action?” Benoy Konar and Shyamal Chakraborty, who were also present at the rally, had also attacked the judiciary on the same lines. He has also urged the West Bengal Government to appeal to the Supreme Court against the High Courts order to ensure the rights of the State.

The Bar Association and the Bar Library Club of the Calcutta High Court had filed a petition last December, alleging that the remarks amounted to contempt of court. Chief Justice S.S. Nirjjar’s division Bench, including Justice Pinaki Ranjan Ghose, declared in its judgement that the police firing in Nandigarm on March 14 killing 14 persons was unjustified and unconstitutional.
Being Angry at the high court’s judgement, the CPM activists today took to the streets in a large number protesting against the ruling. They held a rally in the Esplanade area The leaders, which included party secretary Biman Bose, Benoy Konar, Mohammad Selim, Subhas Chakraborty, and others criticised the Calcutta High Court and accused it of acting beyond it’s constitutional jurisdiction. Both Bose and Konar warned the judges and asked them to act rightly or face the consequences. Dissatisfied with the high court’s judgement, the state advocate general, Balai Roy, advised the government to go to the Supreme Court.The Nandigram – massacre, martyrdom to the mass movement is an example of C P M backed ruling government, the whole world had watched. The atrocities of this ruling government increasing beyond its limit, the news media has the record for last a few decades. We voted and brought this government for development of West Bengal, but if you judge and compare West Bengal with other states in India impartially, you can see the difference. It has been the character of this ruling Government to spew venom and create hostility who criticize them. They do not hesitate to attack even law and constitution of India. It happened many times.