20 september 2024 : On Friday, the Supreme Court criticized the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for requesting the transfer of post-poll violence cases from West Bengal to another state.
The CBI had submitted a transfer petition, prompting the court to remark, “It is very unfortunate that a central agency like the CBI has cast aspersions against the entire judiciary in West Bengal.”
The court ordered the CBI to withdraw its petition, expressing serious concerns about statements made in the petition that implied hostility from all courts. “You are branding all courts in West Bengal as hostile. District judges cannot defend themselves. You are suggesting that trials are not conducted properly,” the court stated.
The court also threatened to issue a contempt notice to the lawyer who drafted the petition, with Justice Oka cautioning, “This is grounds for a contempt notice against the drafter.”
In response, additional solicitor general SV Raju, representing the CBI, stated that there was no intention to cast doubt on the judiciary. However, the court rejected a simple withdrawal, asserting that the allegations were clearly stated in the plea.
“This is all in black and white. How can you proceed like this? Your officer must first apologize for casting such aspersions on the courts in West Bengal,” the court was quoted as saying.
ASG Raju requested the court to use less harsh language, emphasizing that any negative implications regarding the judiciary were unintentional. Ultimately, the Supreme Court dismissed the plea, allowing the CBI to submit a new one.
The CBI, which began investigating the post-poll violence cases at the direction of the Calcutta High Court, had sought to relocate the trials out of West Bengal when it approached the Supreme Court last year.
