Mamata urges CJI Kant to protect Constitution, judiciary & democracy

Jalpaiguri: What began as a distant idea in 1963 has finally become reality in 2026. After a journey of about 63 years, marked by perseverance and patience, the Circuit Bench of the Calcutta High Court now stands as a powerful symbol of accessible and timely justice for all, with the Chief Justice of India (CJI) inaugurating the new building of the Jalpaiguri Circuit Bench.

Speaking at the programme, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday urged the Chief Justice of India Surya Kant to protect the Constitution of the country, democracy and the judiciary.

She also called upon Justice Kant to protect the people of the country from being wrongly targeted by “agencies”.

The TMC supremo also urged the CJI to ensure that “media trials” of cases before their disposal are stopped completely.

“There is a growing trend of media trials before cases are disposed of. This must stop,” she asserted.

“The Judiciary is the custodian of our Constitution. Please protect the people; save democracy; save people; save the judiciary; save the country; save the Constitution. We are all under you. You are the guardian of the Constitution,” she said.

Banerjee said that although the Central government had “stopped funding” for fast-track courts in West Bengal, her government had set up 88 such courts.

“We have already spent more than Rs 1,200 crore on courts. Please do not mind (referring to Union Law and Justice minister Arjun Ram Meghwal among the attendees); though the Centre has stopped the funding, we are continuing the fast-track courts,” she said.

Of these, 52 courts are for women, seven are POCSO courts, four labour courts, and 19 are human rights courts, the CM said.

She also said that the new Jalpaiguri Circuit Bench building was “better than the Calcutta High Court (building)”.

Around 40.08 acres of prime land was allocated for the construction of the building here, and the state government spent more than Rs 500 crore on it, she told the gathering.

“We have given 14 acres of prime land to the Calcutta High Court for a new building in Rajarhat in New Town,” Banerjee said, adding that the state government has set up six district judges’ courts and eight sub-divisional judges’ courts.

In 1963, a movement had started for the creation of a Circuit Bench in North Bengal. In 1988, the High Court, in a full court meeting, decided on a Circuit Bench for North Bengal. In 1995, the proposal received approval from the Supreme Court, and in June 2006, a nod from the Union Cabinet. In 2007, the land was designated for the Circuit Bench in Jalpaiguri. In 2012, the foundation stone was laid, and construction of the building commenced in 2019.

“The Circuit Bench has created a unique microclimate of legal accessibility,” stated CJI Surya Kant. The CJI stated that the Jalpaiguri region, which was, till now, treated as a transit point for other destinations, has now become a destination in itself.

He stated that with the Circuit Bench in Jalpaiguri, residents of this North Bengal region would no longer have to undertake an arduous 600 km journey to Kolkata.

The CJI stressed the integrity of legal practitioners and stated: “True foundation lies not in the glass and mortar but in the foundation of character.” He urged the Bengal government to continue supporting the Judiciary with infrastructure.

Arjun Ram Meghwal, Union Law minister, highlighted the efforts of the Union Government to establish E-Courts and stated that the Circuit Bench would save distance, time and expenses of local residents.

The five-storeyed Neo-Gothic–style building houses 13 courtrooms, a judges’ library, separate chambers for male and female lawyers, a legal aid centre, and a data centre.