Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court on Friday is likely to hear a PIL filed by lawyer Subrata Mukherjee against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. This comes a day after the court took cognizance of a contempt complaint against Mamata for alleging that some court verdicts were bought. Mamata, however, remained defiant and said corruption in judiciary has to come down.
The West Bengal Chief Minister had on August 14 reportedly hit out at the judiciary, saying sometimes court verdicts are purchased. "At times favourable verdicts are given in return for money. These days, judgements are purchased. There is corruption among a section of the judiciary. I know there can be a defamation suit against me for saying this. But this must be said and I am ready to go to jail for saying so," she said in the West Bengal Assembly.
The High Court on Thursday accepted the contempt petition against Mamata and directed advocate Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya to show on what basis he has made the petition.
The court also directed media houses to submit affidavits within two weeks to prove that Mamata had made the alleged statements. If the media houses don't file the affidavit then it would be presumed that the reports were wrong, the court observed.
Mamata, however, justified her controversial remarks saying she only spoke of value-based justice dispension. "Both types of people are there in the world. There are good people and there are bad people. All political leaders are corrupt, it is not that."
"Similarly, all judges are corrupt, I have never said this. Judges are not corrupt. Lawyers are not corrupt. I had not said this. I had spoken about value-based judiciary, need for judicial reforms, political reforms, administrative reforms, which were lacking since Independence, and the need for state funding of elections. What is the harm"? she said adding " if that is wrong, then I will repeat it a thousand times".
Mamata also accused a section of media for distorting her statement on the Judiciary in the Assembly last Tuesday. "Why are you engaged in playing dirty games? It may be that there will be defamation against you if you distort. I have the freedom to express my views," she said addressing to media at the state secretariat in Kolkata.
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