[Narada case] LIVE UPDATES from the Calcutta High Court hearing

A 5-judge Bench of Calcutta High Court is hearing the plea moved by the CBI to transfer the Narada scam case presently pending before a special court to the High Court. .Last week, the Court had granted interim bail to the four TMC leaders, Firhad Hakim, Subrata Mukherjee, Madan Mitra and Sovan Chatterjee, who were arrested by the CBI in relation to the case on May 17..Live updates from the hearing today feature here. .Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj appears on behalf of CBI. Says Solicitor General Tushar Mehta is on his legs in Supreme Court in Covid matter. Requests for matter to be taken up post lunch at 2.30 pm..Bench says this Bench is available only till 3 pm. Asks whether matter can be taken up tomorrow..SG Tushar Mehta appears on screen. Says Covid matter going on in Supreme Court. Asks whether matter can be taken up at 2 pm. Bench agrees. .Bench rises; to reassemble at 2 pm..Bench reassembles. Hearing commences..Advocate General Kishore Dutta makes preliminary objections; questions maintainability He says this proceeding cannot have been heard by Division Bench. Does not have jurisdiction as per Appellate Rules or Letters Patent to hear this matter.CBI could not have written such a letter or filed a petition before Division Bench: Kishore Dutta Solicitor General strongly objects. Says he needs to be heard for 5 minutes. "This is extremely unfair to me. Allow me to speak"."The country wants to know and the Constitutional court cannot throw away the Matter on technical grounds": Tushar Mehta Country also wants to know whether rules of court can be dispensed with: Kalyan Bandhopadhyay.This shows State does not want this court to go into merits. The state is embarrassed of court goes into the merits: Tushar Mehta.Acting CJ Rajesh Bindal tells Advocate General Kishore Dutta he cannot dictate terms on how court should hear a matter. I have right to make a prayer. Even if it is wrong prayer: AG Kishore Dutta.It was not expected from State to argue this: Tushar Mehta. I am arguing for the Rules. I am arguing for the procedure this chartered court has fixed: Dutta.The State does not want court to look into merits on technical grounds: Tushar Mehta These are not technical issues, these are legal issues: Kishore Dutta.SG Tushar Mehta tries to commence arguments. AG Kishore Dutta interrupts. Says he must be permitted to place the rules of the High Court before the Bench This is really frustrating: Tushar Mehta.Justice Harish Tandon says what is the difficulty in hearing all issues including maintainability and merits. .You are asking to compartmentalise the issue and asking us to decide on jurisdiction. So I am saying let all issues be heard including this issue: Justice Harish Tandon.Dutta says he be allowed to place the one Rule before proceeding further. Dutta says the matter should have gone to single judge. "Mr Mehta wants to start on merits. He cannot simply say there is siege in CBI office so matter has to go to Division Bench" Kishore Dutta.Justice Tandon says the issue can be raised and court will consider it along with other issues..Tushar Mehta tries to make submission but Dutta interrupts. Acting CJ Bindal says half an hour has been wasted on this issue. Tushar Mehta says allow him to commence.."We are product of chartered High Court. We may not be top graded product of Supreme Court. But we do know little bit of law:" Kalyan Bandhopadhyay weighs in support of AG Dutta..Tushar Mehta says nobody is disputing his capability. "He is much senior and knowledgeable," says Tushar Mehta SG Tushar Mehta commences arguments..Bench and Bar trying to sort out where relevant pleading are..I am ever so grateful to Sabyasachi Mukherjee, says Tushar Mehta when he helps with some papers. Why not grateful to me: Kalyan Bandhopadhyay I am extremely grateful to you Mr. Bandhopadhyay: Mehta But please don't arrest me ok: Bandhopadhyay..He has arrested you with his affection: Sidharth Luthra.The papers in this case are like an ever growing child, remarks a judge on the Bench..The voluminous papers in case has both Bench and lawyers confused. Trying to sort out the issue. We will continue tomorrow then, says Bench.SG Tushar Mehta says please allow him to make arguments first. This is an issue of seminal importance: Mehta..Hearing over. Matter to be heard tomorrow at 11.30 am.

[Narada case] LIVE UPDATES from the Calcutta High Court hearing

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