[BREAKING] Advocate General Kishore Datta’s consent sought to initiate contempt of court against West Bengal Bar Council Chairman Ashok Kumar Deb

A Kolkata resident has written to West Bengal Advocate General Kishore Datta seeking his consent to initiate contempt of court proceeding against West Bengal Bar Council Chairperson, Ashok Kumar Deb..The request was made by one Vijay Kumar Singhal, a permanent resident of Howrah, in the light of the letter written by Deb to Chief Justice of India NV Ramana making allegations against acting Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court, Rajesh Bindal.As per Section 15 of the Contempt of Courts Act, the consent of Advocate General is required before the High Court can hear a criminal contempt petition filed by a private individual..Deb, who is also a Member of Legislative Assembly belonging to the ruling All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) party, had on June 25 written to CJI Ramana alleging that Justice Bindal is a biased and unfair judge who is partial towards the Bharatiya Janata Party.To buttress his case, Deb had highlighted alleged biased and improper listing and hearing of various cases like Narada scam, Mamata Banerjee's election petition and a case on wastage of medicines in the State..Bar Council of West Bengal writes to CJI NV Ramana seeking removal of Calcutta High Court Acting CJ, Rajesh Bindal .He had, therefore, asked CJI Ramana to take steps to remove Justice Bindal from Calcutta High Court.The letter was written on the letterhead of the West Bengal Bar Council though four members of the Bar Council had later stated that no such issue was ever discussed or approved by the Council.Singhal in his request to AG Dutta said that the letter by Deb amounts to criminal contempt of court as it scandalises the High Court and its judges..It also tends to interfere with the administration of justice since the cases highlighted in the letter are still pending before the High Court, Singhal said. .Four members of West Bengal Bar Council claim Chairperson acted on his own in writing letter to CJI Ramana against Calcutta HC CJ Rajesh Bindal.He also pointed out that after Deb had sent the letter, four members of the West Bengal Bar Council had penned a letter denouncing Deb’s letter and alleging that the Deb’s letter did not reflect the Bar Council’s views since the matter was never even discussed in the Council.Singhal, therefore, stated that Deb misused his position to bring disrepute to the Calcutta High Court and requested Dutta’s consent to initiate contempt of court action against Deb..[Read Letter]