Bengal Teacher Recruitment Case: SC Stays Calcutta HC Judge's Order Seeking Documents From Apex Court Secretary General

Calcutta High Court Judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay’s order to produce the documents that led to his removal from a high-profile teachers’ recruitment case in West Bengal was stayed by the Supreme Court on Friday (28 April) evening.

Justice Gangopadhyay had directed the Supreme Court’s top official to present the documents in question.

His removal was triggered by a TV interview he gave in which he commented on cases he was hearing.

Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay, who was hearing petitions related to an alleged scam in the recruitment of teachers in the state, was asked to be replaced by another judge earlier in the day after a bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud took note of a report by the Registrar General of the Calcutta High Court on the interview to a news channel, reports NDTV.

Hearing an appeal by Abhishek Banerjee, nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and leader of Trinamool Congress party, the Supreme Court asked the Acting Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court to reassign the case to a different judge, citing the need to "maintain public confidence in the administration of justice".

Earlier on Monday (24 April), the Supreme Court disapproved of the judge giving an interview related to a pending case and ruled that he can no longer hear said case.

The apex court asked the Registrar-General to verify and file an affidavit on this matter. The Supreme Court emphasised that judges have no business granting interviews on pending matters.

Justice Gangopadhyay, however, on Friday evening issued an order instructing the Secretary General of the Supreme Court to deliver the original report, official translation of his interview, and affidavit of the Calcutta High Court Registrar General to him by midnight.

He added that he would stay in his room until 12.15 am to acquire the two original sets presented before the Supreme Court.

Late in the evening, the Supreme Court suspended Justice Gangopadhyay's order in a special hearing.