Judge vs judge: SC transfers pleas related to West Bengal caste certificate case to itself

The Supreme Court on Monday transferred to itself petitions related to a conflict between two benches of the Calcutta High Court regarding the matter of a CBI investigation into purported irregularities in the issuance of caste certificates for candidates vying for reserved category seats.

A five-judge constitution bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, along with Justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, Surya Kant, and Aniruddha Bose was hearing the matter.
The bench directed the completion of pleadings within three weeks, stating, “We will list the pleas exactly after three weeks.”

Earlier, on January 27, the top court bench had convened on a holiday to address the dispute. A defiant judge had overridden an order from a division bench that had annulled his directive for a CBI probe, instructing the central agency to proceed with the investigation.

To address the complex judicial situation, the bench, on Saturday, decided to “take charge” and halt all proceedings in the clash between the two benches of the Calcutta High Court concerning the initiation of a CBI investigation into alleged irregularities.
Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay accused his fellow judge Soumen Sen of the division bench of favoring West Bengal’s ruling party to overturn his order for a CBI probe.