Recruitment Scam
Bengal Teachers' Scam: Justice Ganguly's TV interview prompts SC to remove him from the cases
New Delhi/IBNS: The Supreme Court on Friday ordered the transfer of all West Bengal teacher recruitment scam cases from Justice Abhijit Ganguly's bench owing to the judge's interview with a local private television channel on the corruption issue he was hearing, media reports said.
The top court directive is significant as Justice Ganguly's orders in the scam cases have created ripples in the state with multiple arrests including the one of former education minister Partha Chatterjee.
Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud has asked for a separate judge to hear the respective cases.
The Supreme Court order stems from an interview where Justice Ganguly spoke on the cases, referred to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, revealed that he was upset with TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee in one instance et al at length.
While Justice Ganguly's strict actions and directives had impressed anti-government protesters who were demanding "justice" and legitimate recruitments, a section of people had questioned his television interview citing "ethics".
Welcoming the order, TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee said, "We have always welcomed the court orders. We welcome this order as well."
"If someone from TMC is involved in the scams, he/she must be probed. We want all culprits to be penalised so that an example can be set in the whole country," he added.
Former state education minister Partha Chatterjee, former primary education board president and Trinamool MLA Manik Bhattacharya are among the people who have been arrested so far in connection with the scam.
Partha and his close-aide Arpita Mukherjee were arrested in the cases after a huge cash (about Rs 50 crore) was recovered from the latter's two flats.
Both are still behind the bars.
Reacting to the judgement, BJP state chief spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said, "Though the cases have been transferred, the institutional corruption by the TMC government is no more unknown to people of the state."
"We should not forget that many heavyweights were arrested, a huge sum of money was recovered under Justice Ganguly's directive and monitoring. I would also urge the court to consider that natural justice is not sacrificed," he added.
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