“I will issue contempt of court against you and send you to jail:” Full heated argument between Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay and Bar President Arunava Ghosh
In a remarkable turn of events, a warmed verbal heated conversation between sitting judge Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay and Bar President of the Calcutta High Court on Thursday after the court permitted journalists who present in the court to make a video recording of the conference relating to the unlawful appointment of teachers in the state-run schools of West Bengal.
Justice Gangopadhyay had ordered to all six allegedly illegally appointed teachers to appear before the Court in person on Thursday including daughter of arrested TMC leader Anubrata Mondal in connection with an allegation that she and five others were appointed in primary schools without having cleared the Teachers’ Eligibility Test (TET). The petitioners had claimed that some people closely related to TMC leader had been given appointments as teachers, including Sukanya, who had allegedly never visited Kalikapur Primary School in Birbhum, where she was appointed.
Justice Gangopadhyay had before directed CBI investigation in various instances of alleged abnormalities in appointment of teaching and non-teaching staff in West Bengal government schools in the State.
The situation unfolded in the courtroom when Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay permitted journalists to record video of the procedures in his court for the situation connecting with teacher recruitment scam.
It could be noticed that recording of court procedures is restricted according to the Supreme Court’s guidelines on video conferencing which specify that any unauthorised usage of live-streaming will be punishable under the Indian Copyright Act, 1957, Information Technology Act, 2000, and different provisions of law, including the contempt of law.
The following is the record of the argument:
ADV Arunava Ghosh (former Congress MLA): There is talk they go to your chamber.
Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay: Who?
Arunava Ghosh: There is gossip.
Justice Gangopadhyay: Who go to my chamber?
Arunava Ghosh: These journalists.
Justice Gangopadhyay: Yes they go to my chamber. What is the protest with it?
Arunava Ghosh: Kindly take 131.
Justice Gangopadhyay: no. I will talk with you and I will issue contempt of court against you and send you to jail Mr. Ghosh.
Arunava Ghosh: Your Lordships advised them to be available.
Justice Gangopadhyay: I will let the Executive Producer know whose name has been gathered by the Registrar Mr. Amritanshu Bhattacharya. This is an altered program. I will call you and Amritanshu Bhattacharya one day by issuing contempt of court against you and I think there is sufficient proof.
Arunava Ghosh: Kindly. I know My Lord how to manage the appointed authority.
Justice Gangopadhyay: I know how to manage crooks like you.
Arunava Ghosh: You don’t have the proper knowledge about the law.
Justice Gangopadhyay: You don’t know nothing.
Arunava Ghosh: yes… I have seen you for a long time… you are here, you have not passed a single judgment.
Justice Gangopadhyay: Not passed a single judgment? You don’t read anything you don’t state realities. You don’t have any idea. Exceptionally sad
Arunava Ghosh: Please toss your (indistinct) that will be better. Sympathetically issue rule… it will be chosen by division bench.
Justice Gangopadhyay: I will issue contempt of court against you and send you to jail Mr. Ghosh.
Arunava Ghosh: Kindly issue
Justice Gangopadhyay: Yes I will issue. Try not to show me your red eye Mr. Ghosh
Someone else endeavors to speak: I am (muddled) individual your lordships have coordinated to show up.
Justice Gangopadhyay: I have proactively said don’t show me your red eye. Assuming you show, I will censure you.
Someone else attempts to talk
Justice Gangopadhyay: Who are you Sir? Why additional significance is to be given to you. No. I won’t hear a single thing from you. Assuming that I hear, I will hear Mr. Ghosh, Mr. Banerjee, Mr. Bhattaryacya Mr. (hazy). Bring down request.
The adjudicator then continued to list the case for 1st of September 2022.
Justice Gangopadhyay’s court had seen contention before this year when legal counselors partnered to the All India Trinamool Congress had looked to ban advocates from entering the court of Justice Gangopadhyay considering his request coordinating a test by the Central Bureau of Agency (CBI) into the (School Service Commission) SSC defilement case.
In a request dated March 30, the single-judge had areas of strength for taken to a request passed by a Division Bench of the High Court permitting a party in the SSC case to present a record in a fixed cover, thusly ‘tying’ the hands of the single-judge.
Justice Gangopadhyay had named this request as “a most extensive level of twofold norm”
[Watch video of the exchange below as tweeted by Mohit Bhati Advocate]
“I will issue contempt of court against you and send you to jail:” Full heated argument between Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay and Bar President Arunava Ghosh pic.twitter.com/dTxv3darWX
— Mohit bhati advocate Gurjar 🇮🇳 (@mohit9310204200) August 21, 2022
