The Calcutta HC judge Kaushik Chanda on Wednesday, has recused himself from hearing the Mamata vs Suvendu case and fined Mamata Banerjee Rs 5 lakh to “firmly repulse” the “calculated psychological offensives and vilification adopted to seek recusal”.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had appealed for transfer of the case from Justice Kaushik Chanda’s bench and claimed that Justice Chandra is associated with BJP and often been seen with BJP leaders.
Justice Kaushik Chanda said “If a person appears for a political party, it is uncommon but he lays aside his bias while hearing a case. In this case, pecuniary interest does not arise,”
“It is preposterous to suggest that a judge who has an association with a political party for a case. A judge cannot be seen to be biased because of the litigant’s view,” the judge said.
CM Banerjee did not react to media’s questions on the fine and said I will not speak on this. The lawyers will take a decision.
