Kolkata, Nov 07: West Bengal Left Front chairman Biman Bose today appeared before Calcutta High Court on summons for the hearing of a contempt petition against him for alleged remarks against a high court judge over an order restricting rallies and processions in the metropolis on weekdays. Bose, a senior CPI(M) politburo member, who appeared before a division bench comprising Justice Ashok Ganguly and Justice S P Talukdar in a crowded court room thronged by advocates and newsmen, was granted exemption from personal appearance till further orders.
Appearing for Bose, Bikash Bhattacharjee submitted that the criminal contempt case was not maintainable as petitioner Kallol Guha Thakurta had not taken leave of the advocate-general claiming that the permission was necessary unless it was a suo motu contempt initiated by the court.
Hence, contempt proceedings against Bose be dismissed, he contended.
Bhattacharjee also submitted that he had not received a copy of the petition and as such was unaware of the points raised in it.
Idris Ali, advocate for the petitioner, submitted that there was no need for such permission.
After hearing Bhattacharjee and Ali, the bench directed Bose to file an affidavit within 10 weeks.
The question of maintainability of the contempt petition was kept open by the court.
The matter will appear before the court after 12 weeks.
Bureau Report