The Supreme Court was informed that the Attorney General for India, R. Venkataramani, has declined to grant consent for initiating criminal contempt proceedings against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over her remarks regarding the Apex Court’s judgment in the teachers’ recruitment scam case.
The matter was heard by a Bench comprising Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran and Justice N.V. Anjaria. The Court noted that the petition, filed by the public charitable trust Aatmadeep, seeking contempt action, could not proceed without the AG’s sanction, highlighting the procedural necessity of obtaining prior consent in criminal contempt cases.
The petition by Aatmadeep alleged that the Chief Minister had made objectionable statements in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling invalidating appointments made by the West Bengal School Service Commission in 2016. The Apex Court had earlier upheld the Calcutta High Court’s decision canceling approximately 25,000 teaching and non-teaching appointments, finding the selection process to be vitiated by fraud.
Counsel for Aatmadeep sought withdrawal of the petition, informing the Court that the Attorney General had not granted consent. The petitioners noted that a sanction request had been submitted but remained pending, and no action could be pursued without the AG’s approval.
Chief Justice Gavai allowed the petition to be withdrawn, emphasizing adherence to proper procedure in contempt matters. The Court recalled its earlier remarks urging that political disputes and controversies should not enter judicial proceedings. The Bench noted that while the petition raised serious allegations regarding public statements by a political leader, the law requires that criminal contempt proceedings cannot commence without the Attorney General’s explicit sanction.
The Top Court permitted the withdrawal of the contempt petition. No further proceedings will take place against the Chief Minister in this matter, and the Court disposed of the petition in accordance with procedural compliance regarding criminal contempt.
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