PM inaugurates Calcutta HC circuit bench; Mamata will write to CJI Ranjan Gogoi

Churabhandar/Kolkata: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday inaugurated the Jalpaiguri circuit bench of Calcutta High Court, but West Bengal Chief Minister took objection to it claiming that her government, as well as the court, were kept in the dark.

"Land is ours; circuit bench is of the high court. Neither the groom nor the bride is there, but the band wala has come," Banerjee said about the inauguration of the circuit bench, accusing Modi of hijacking it.

A Calcutta High Court official said there was no communication from the Centre or the state government regarding the inauguration of the bench.

Pressing a button, Modi unveiled the plaque of the circuit bench from a stage near his public meeting ground at Churabhandar in Jalpaiguri district and said a long-term demand of the people of north Bengal has been met and they won't have to travel to Kolkata any more for litigations.

Modi said that despite the sanction given by the union cabinet 13 to 14 years ago, "the insensitive government in the state has not been able to start the circuit bench for so long".

Denying the charge, Banerjee claimed she and the then Calcutta High Court chief justice had planned to inaugurate the circuit bench four months ago, but the Centre did not issue any notification.

But now the announcement was suddenly made to facilitate the inauguration by Modi to win some "political brownie points", she alleged.

"Who has given land for the new building and funds for the circuit bench? Rs 300 crore has been spent by us (West Bengal government), we gave the land," Banerjee said.

Banerjee will write to the Chief Justice of India protesting against PM Narendra Modi's inauguration of the Circuit Bench of Calcutta High Court in Jalpaiguri without the involvement of the Calcutta High Court and the state government.