Court rejects lawyer's petition against Mamata Banerjee, asks him to file PIL

Kolkata: Lawyer Subrata Mukherjee, who was to file a contempt petition against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, has been asked to file a PIL first. The court refused to take suo motu cognizance of his petition. "I am hurt by the comments made by a constitutional authority of a state. How can one cast aspersion on judiciary one of the pillars of our democracy," Subrata Mukherjee had said.

However, the Calcutta High Court will hear Mamata's state assembly speech, which she made on Tuesday. Lawyers allege she has disgraced the judiciary by alleging that court verdicts are sometimes purchased and at times favourable verdicts are given in return for money.

The Left and West Bengal Congress have called Mamata's remarks unconstitutional, though Law Minister Salman Khurshid played it down.

Lawyer Subrata Mukherjee, who was to file a contempt petition against Mamata Banerjee, has been asked to file a PIL.

"In what context that statement was made I don't know. But I strongly believe that intention would be that the independence of the judiciary is protected," Khurshid said.

"These days judgements can be bought in lieu of money," Mamata had said.

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