Judge reserves order on Mamata’s recusal petition accusing him of BJP links

Kolkata, Jun 24 (PTI):
The Calcutta High Court Thursday reserved its order on a plea by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee that the judge assigned to hear her election petition against BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari recuse himself from the case as he was an “active member” of the BJP like her Nandigram rival. Banerjee appeared before the court of Justice Kaushik Chanda through video conference, as directed by him on June 18. Justice Chanda, against whom the recusal petition has been filed, heard the matter and reserved his order. The judge did not specify the date for pronouncement of the verdict. Banerjee had moved the high court claiming she apprehended that she may not get justice from the judge due to his alleged BJP links.
Her counsel had earlier written to Acting Chief Justice of the high court Rajesh Bindal seeking reassignment of her election petition. Banerjee has claimed in her recusal petition that she has been made aware that Justice Chanda was an “active member” of the BJP. She said since the matter related to adjudication of an election petition where the election of a BJP candidate has been contested, it will have political ramifications. So, she prayed that the acting chief justice, who is the master of roster, assign the matter to another bench.
Importantly, it also mentions that CM Banerjee had written to Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court and had objected to the Confirmation of Justice Chanda as a permanent Judge of the High Court.
It may be noted that the Bench of Justice Kaushik Chandra had listed the matter after the matter was mentioned before the bench and Banerjee’s counsel Soumendra Nath Mukherjee urged the bench to keep the same for directions. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was up against the TMC turncoat and BJP candidate Adhikari in the Nandigram Vidhan Sabha Constituency and she was defeated by Adhikari.
Banerjee has accused Adhikari, her former confidante- turned-rival, of committing corrupt practices in violation of Section 123 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. She also alleged irregularities were committed in the counting exercise.
According to the result declared by the Election Commission on May 2, Adhikari defeated Banerjee by 1956 votes.
The West Bengal chief minister had sought recounting of votes after her defeat by a slender margin but the returning officer turned down the request.