SC directs former judge to vacate flat

New Delhi, Mar 10 (UNI) The Supreme Court today directed former Calcutta High Court Judge Mr B P Banerjee to hand over the possession of his Salt Lake city flat within a week after accepting the auction amount of Rs 30.15 lakh.

A bench comprising Mr Justice H K Sema and Mr Justice A R Lakshmanan said, in case Mr Banerjee refused to vacate the house, the government shall ensure his eviction within a week.

The court also deprecated the filing of application by Justice Banerjee (respondent no. 8) and described the application filed as an attempt to circumvent the due process of law.

The court also directed the registry not to accept any application in future without the leave of the court.

Justice Banerjee was allotted the flat from the discretionary quota of the then Chief Minister of West Bengal Joyti Basu. The allotment was later struck down as ''illegal'' by the court.

The allotment of the flat to Justice Banerjee was cancelled under the Supreme Court order and an auction also took place under the same order in November 2004.

Justice Banerjee was found guilty of judicial misconduct after he heard the petition of the allottees despite the fact that he himself was a beneficiary of such allotment.

UNI AKS/SC SK JN KP1211