Taking suo motu cognisance of the clash between two sitting judges of the Calcutta High Court over the case relating to the caste certificate scam, the Supreme Court on Monday transferred all proceedings concerning the case from the High Court to itself.
The order was passed by the Bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Justice BR Gavai, Justice Surya Kant and Justice Aniruddha Bose.
Without commenting on the rift between Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay and Justice Soumen Sen of the Calcutta High Court, the Apex Court observed that any such comment would affect the dignity of the High Court’s proceedings.
The Bench directed transfer of all proceedings in the writ petition filed under Article 226 and the letters patent appeal to the Supreme Court, stating that it would deal with the case now.
Various senior counsels, who were present in the Court, raised incidental concerns before the bench.
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the State of West Bengal, said that Justice Gangopadhyay was continuing to take such matters.. He will continue doing the same thing, he added.
On the other hand, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta hinted that there were some “shocking facts” at play.
The students belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes were represented by Senior Advocate KTS Tulsi.
The Apex Court noted that there was a Chief Justice of the High Court who was allocating cases. It would arrogate his powers, it added.