SC stays all proceedings before two benches of Calcutta HC after row between judges

NT Bureau, Agencies

Patna/New Delhi: After an embarrassing tussle between two benches of the Calcutta High Court over institution of a CBI investigation into alleged irregularities in issuance of caste certificates to candidates aspiring for reserved category seats, the Supreme Court on Saturday said it is taking "charge" and stayed all proceedings pending there.

A five-judge bench of the apex court chaired by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud sat on a holiday to address the dispute where a defiant judge overruled an order of a division bench that had quashed his direction for a CBI probe and asked the central agency to go ahead with investigation.

Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay had accused brother judge Soumen Sen of the division bench of pandering to the interests of West Bengal's ruling party to overrule his order for a CBI probe.

The apex court, in probably an unprecedented step, taken cognisance of the unpleasant situation on Friday, constituted a five-judge bench, and decided to hold a special sitting today to resolve the issue that understandably caused it great discomfiture.

The Supreme Court stayed all proceedings before the Calcutta High Court and execution of the orders issued by the two benches.