Latest news with #ParthaSarathiChatterjee
Time of India
24-07-2025
- Time of India
Licence seizure receipts must, Cal HC tells traffic cops
Kolkata: The Calcutta HC on Thursday asked the DCP (traffic) to train cops to issue acknowledgements for all licence seizures. The HC also asked the DCP to direct that traffic cops, before compounding any case, ask the motorist if they wanted to legally contest the charges. The HC was passing its orders on a March 26, 2024 issue when a sergeant booked a lawyer for speeding and "coerced" him into paying a Rs 1,000 fine online after compounding his offence. The sergeant, who threatened to seize the lawyer's licence, did not even offer to provide an acknowledgement. Justice Partha Sarathi Chatterjee reprimanded the officer, telling him "to strictly adhere to the due process of law in future, and to conduct himself with professionalism, sensitivity, and responsibility in interactions with public." The HC did not pass any order because the offence was compounded. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata
Time of India
05-06-2025
- Time of India
Hate-speech: Cal HC judge gets death threats on X after denying bail to influencer
Kolkata: Multiple X handles have posted death threats to Calcutta High Court's Justice Partha Sarathi Chatterjee after the judge on Tuesday refused to grant interim bail to a social media influencer in a hate-speech case. The reply threads to these posts turned into a hotbed of vitriol as multiple posts hurled abuses at the judge. Most of these X accounts were pseudonymous and used unrelated images as display pictures. One user claimed that the judge deserved "unknown gunmen", while another said that "public should take care of him whenever he is spotted..." Some users sought the judge's address and phone number. Screenshots of Justice Chatterjee's courtroom were shared on X, at least one user posted the judge's bio (from the NGT website where he once served) and some users highlighted that the judge had been a student of Hooghly Mohsin College. Interestingly, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, the Bengali literary great who penned India's national song 'Vande Mataram', was once a student of the college. The deluge of threats prompted several X users to report these posts, by tagging Kolkata Police. Police commissioner Manoj Verma or joint commissioner of police (crime) Rupesh Kumar, however, did not respond to calls and texts by TOI. Speaking on the issue, Calcutta HC's registrar general Nabanita Ray said that the matter would be looked into after June 9, when the court opens after the vacation. Justice Chatterjee, during the case hearing on Tuesday, had observed: "In a country like ours, people of different faiths, communities and linguistic backgrounds coexist. Therefore, one should exercise caution when making any comments in the media or before the public. The Hon'ble Supreme Court, in a series of judgments, has condemned incidents of hate speech, dog whistling and making disparaging remarks that may hurt any section of the people of our country. " The Calcutta High Court had asked the state to produce the case diary on Thursday for the next vacation judge to examine the case before reaching a decision on whether the 4th-year law student could be given interim bail.
India Today
04-06-2025
- General
- India Today
Hiding behind fake profiles, people threaten to kill judge who denied Sharmishta Panoli bail
A Kolkata judge only denied bail to Sharmistha Panoli, a social media influencer accused of making communally-charged statements in a video. This enraged many, and they now want to issue a death warrant against the the bail rejection on June 3, anonymous accounts on X went after Justice Partha Sarathi Chatterjee of the Calcutta High Court — going so far as to say he deserved 'unknown gunmen'. This, of course, was a reference to Luigi Mangione, the American man accused of shooting and killing Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, in December last X user called Toshali wrote, "This scum bong - Partha Sarathi Chatterjee - deserves kambal some unknown need their unknown gunmen in that fear to seep in to such cretin judges." Another account with the username rohitkumar23595 replied, saying, "Kill Partha Sarathi Chatterjee." India Today Fact Check looked at the various threats being issued to the judge on X and found a common thread: these accounts were anonymous. They had no real profile pictures, using photos of animated characters, sportspersons, and even coins. Some of these accounts were created mere days ago in some accused the judge of corruption and alleged ties with West Bengal's ruling party, the Trinamool Congress, others crossed the line into explicit threats and attempts at account going by the name of Adi shared a link from the National Green Tribunal website containing the judge's bio. He wrote: 'Let's see if we can find his home address.' While the account claimed it was based in New York, we could not find any posts about the US city. All the posts seemed to be about Indian account, going by the name Rupesh Reddi, posted, 'Anyone know his address? Or mobile number? Please do share.'advertisementSome others encouraged mob violence veiled as 'public action'. A parody account featuring the profile photo of WWE wrestler Becky Lynch wrote: "Public should take care of him whenever he is spotted in public place." Another account wrote, "Prime time to set an example... That's all I will say. Off-topic: the French Revolution was a crazy moment in history, right?"The French Revolution, a period of political upheaval in France in the late 1700s, saw the public execution of many, including King Louis the bail plea hearing on June 3, Justice Chatterjee reportedly said, 'This video was made on social media, it was heard, and this incident has led to a section of people's sentiments being hurt.' This remark was not taken well by many accounts. One X user named Sentinel posted a cryptic note saying, "Well, let's hope it does not come to 'the judge should have thought of the consequences before denying bail', considering the threats she is under. What will he say then?"Sharmistha Panoli, the accused in the case, issued an unconditional apology and deleted the contentious video. Despite this, however, she was arrested after multiple FIRs were filed against her. The Calcutta High Court has since ordered the consolidation of all the FIRs into a single case. The matter is scheduled for a hearing on June Watch
Time of India
03-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Four more HC cases come in way of SSC teacher appointments
Kolkata: Four petitions have been filed in the Calcutta High Court, challenging the new May 29 teacher recruitment rules, 2025, for filling up 44,203 vacancies in the teaching posts in state-run schools. The petitions also challenge the monthly interim relief of Rs 25,000 and Rs 20,000 for the terminated Group C and Group D employees, which was announced by the state govt on May 30. The high court has admitted all four petitions. "The two petitions challenging the recruitment rules have been filed separately by classes IX-X and classes XI-XII applicants. The matter was mentioned before Justice Partha Sarathi Chatterjee. It might be taken up for hearing on June 5 by the bench of Justice Raja Basu Chowdhury," petitioners' lawyer Firdous Samim said. The remaining two petitions challenging the interim relief for Group C and D may come up for hearing on June 9. The petitioners challenged the new teacher recruitment rules, 2025, notification on many counts, calling it a departure from the Supreme Court order. They maintain that the apex court, while scrapping the 2016 recruitment process, didn't scrap The West Bengal School Service Commission Rules, 2016. According to the petitioners, the government altered the recruitment rules, 2016, through the new notification in which the weightage for different attainments of candidates was altered. For instance, 10 marks were allotted to "prior teaching experience", which was not there in the 2016 rules. The petitioners fear that this new parameter was inserted to favour the 26,750 teachers who lost their jobs following the Supreme Court order. The other clauses disputed are the reduced academic qualification marks from 35 to 10 and increased written examination marks from 55 to 60. A petitioner said, "Many of our fellow protesters who have crossed the stipulated age cannot appear for the exam again, but those who lost their jobs can appear even if they exceed the upper age limit." Lubana Parvin, a petitioner, said: "We have been fighting for the last 10 years for justice, but the new recruitment rule has made it more difficult for us as it has given added advantage to the teachers who lost their jobs. The provision for 10 marks to be given for lecture demonstration means we will get nothing as we have never participated in classroom teaching. Many of the waitlisted candidates cannot appear for the test as they have crossed 40 years. The age relaxation has been given to the jobless teachers only; why have we been deprived of this relaxation?" The other petitions questioned why those empaneled as wait-listed candidates in Group C and Group D categories wouldn't get the monthly relief when those who first got the jobs out of the fraudulent process were entitled to the relief. Roy Banerjee)
Hindustan Times
03-06-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Calcutta high court denies interim bail to influencer Sharmishta Panoli
Kolkata: The Calcutta high court on Tuesday refused to grant ad-interim bail to social media influencer Sharmishta Panoli who was arrested by the Kolkata Police on May 30 for her alleged controversial comments on social media. The bench of Justice Partha Sarathi Chatterjee, however, directed the state to ensure that no further FIRs are registered against Panoli for the same set of allegations. 'The social media post has admittedly hurt the sentiments of a section of citizens. We have freedom of speech and expression. That doesn't mean you will go on hurting the sentiments of others. Our nation is full of diversity. People from several communities and caste, and speaking different languages coexist. So, while making such submissions, we have to be cautious,' the court said. Advocate VP Singh, Panoli's counsel, moved the Calcutta high court seeking ad-interim bail for the 19-year-old law student. Senior advocate Kalyan Banerjee, who was representing the state, however, opposed the bail. The court witnessed a high-pitched argument between the two counsels. 'The May 15 FIR says that she made some blasphemous comments against a community. What is that? Where is that content? The FIR doesn't disclose a cognizable offence, which the police have registered,' Singh told the court. He also said that Panoli's family was receiving threats every day after the social media post and even approached police on three consecutive days seeking protection. It wasn't provided. On May 19, a crowd gathered outside Panoli's residence threatening the family. That was when the family decided to move to Gurugram. Police had earlier stated that all attempts were made to serve notice, but she was found absconding on every occasion. Consequently, a warrant of arrest was issued by the competent court, following which she was apprehended lawfully from Gurugram. 'She had posted a video hurting the religious faith. The FIR itself discloses a cognizable offence. Warrant was issued by the appropriate magistrate after notice was served. Their flat was under lock and key. She was arrested and produced before a magistrate. Her bail petition was rejected by the magistrate and she was sent to custody,' Banerjee told the court. The court was told Panoli was suffering from attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and kidney related ailments. At least four cases have been registered against her. The bench of Justice Partha Sarathi Chatterjee directed police to produce the case diary and the CD (content of the video posted by the accused on social media) on June 5 during the next hearing. 'The Garden Reach case shall be treated as the principal case against her. Proceedings on the remaining cases will be stayed. The state will ensure that no further FIRs are registered on the same set of allegations,' the bench stated. Even as Singh sought an immediate interim bail, the court fixed the next hearing for Thursday saying: 'Heaven will not fall'.
