Judges argue in open court over bail to flyover collapse

Two judges of a division bench of the Calcutta High Court today argued with each other in open court today over granting bail to some accused persons in connection with the Vivekananda Road flyover collapse.
Justice C S Karnan, who had earlier been in news for staying his transfer order from the Madras High Court to the Calcutta High Court by the Supreme Court, differed with brother judge Justice Ashim Kumar Roy over bail to ten accused persons after earlier holding concurrence in refusing bail to them.
The bench, comprising Justice Roy and Justice Karnan, had refused bail to the ten accused on May 20.

Justice Karnan, however, had a change of mind later and signed in favour of granting bail to the accused yesterday, 18 days after the bail prayers were refused by the division bench.
Justice Roy objected to Justice Karnan's decision as they sat in the court together as part of the division bench today.
While Justice Roy said such orders were always passed in open court room, Justice Karnan said after going through the papers relating to the case afresh in his chamber, he felt bail should be granted to the ten accused and as such decided in favour of granting of bail.

Following arguments over the legality of the order of Justice Karnan, the judges left the court room and retired to their respective chambers.

The bail prayers of the ten accused are likely to be referred to the Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court on whether it should be sent to a third judge owing to the disagreement.
The Calcutta High Court Bar Association held an urgent general body meeting later in the day and decided not to attend the court of Justice Karnan.
"We held a general body meeting wherein a majority decision was taken not to participate in any judicial proceedings before the court of Justice Karnan," Bar Association General Secretary Suranjan Dasgupta said alleging "misbehaviour" by the judge.