Calcutta court asks CPM leaders to file replies for criticising Nandigram ruling

Kolkata, Aug 5 : The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday asked the Communist Party of India (Marxist) leaders Biman Bose, Binoy Konar and Shyamal Chakraborty leaders to file replies in a contempt of court case relating to the March 14 firing at Nandigram.

However, the division bench of Chief Justice S S Nijjar and Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghosh, exempted the three leaders from personal appearances till the filing of affidavits after the Durga Puja vacations.

The case was filed by the High Court Bar Association and the Bar Library Club. In their petition, they had said the trio had made derogatory remarks in public meetings to malign and undermine the judiciary.

On November 16, 2007, the High Court had declared police firing at Nandigram on March 14, 2007 as 'unconstitutional'. Following this, on November 17, the three leaders had allegedly passed remarks on the judgment of the court at a rally in Kolkata.

On Novemeber 27 same year, the High Court had issued a criminal contempt notice to Bose, Konar and Chakraborty and asked them to submit their replies by January 31, 2008 explaining their public statements in which they had condemned the court ruling.

ANI