Supreme Court stays Calcutta High Court proceedings in 'irregularities' in admission of MBBS candidates

Satya Prakash

New Delhi, January 27

The Supreme Court on Saturday stayed all further proceedings before both the Division Bench and Single Judge Bench of the Calcutta High Court which passed orders against each other in connection with alleged irregularities in the admission of MBBS candidates in state-run medical colleges and hospitals in West Bengal.

A five-judge Constitution Bench led by CJI DY Chandrachud also stayed the implementation of directions issued by single judge Justice Abhijit gangopadhyay directing a CBI probe in the matter and posted the matter for Monday.

The Bench — which also included Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Justice BR Gavai, Justice Surya Kant and Justice Anirudha Bose — issued notice to the Calcutta High Court Registrar General, the state of West Bengal and the original petitioner.

Single-judge Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay had passed an order that the Division Bench’s order should be ignored. He had also accused Justice Soumen Sen — who was heading the Division Bench — of “acting for a political party in the state”.

Advocate Astha Sharma accepted the notice on behalf of the West Bengal government.

The West Bengal government was represented by senior advocate Kapil Sibal while senior advocate AM Singhvi appeared for Abhijit Banerjee.

Attorney General R Venkataramani and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta represented the Centre.