Judges to inspect Jalpaiguri circuit bench infrastructure

Kolkata: Judges of Calcutta high court will inspect the infrastructure prepared for setting up of a circuit bench at Jalpaiguri this weekend, the HC administration told a bench hearing a petition in connection with chief minister’s announcement of date of inauguration. The high court administration’s counsel told Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty that the team of judges would submit a report after inspection of the Jalpaiguri zilla parishad bungalow, following which a full court meeting would take a decision on inauguration of the circuit bench. The HC administration’s lawyer Joydeep Kar submitted that the zilla parishad bungalow will be a temporary set up till the permanent circuit bench complex in Jalpaiguri is ready. Justice Chakraborty adjourned hearing in the matter till August 9 as further argument would depend on the outcome of the inspection of the team of judges.

A petition was moved before the high court on July 26 questioning the propriety of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s recent announcement that the circuit bench at Jalpaiguri will be inaugurated on August 17.

Ms Banerjee and the then Chief Justice of Calcutta high court Justice J N Patel laid the foundation stone for the circuit bench in September 2012 on 40 acres of land given by the state government for the purpose. Petitioner’s lawyer Bikash Bhattacharya had contended on July 26 that it is for a full court meeting of judges of the high court to take a decision on setting up of a circuit bench. After a full court decision, the President makes a formal notification for the setting up and inauguration of a circuit bench, he claimed before Justice Chakraborty.

The petitioner cited some newspaper reports which said the chief minister made an announcement in Siliguri on July 10 that the circuit bench will be inaugurated on August 17.