Thaindian News

Kolkata, Aug 15 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s remark that judicial orders could be bought for money drew flak from political parties Wednesday, including the Congress.

The Congress, a constituent of the Trinamool Congress-led state government, accused Banerjee of violating constitutional principles.

The chief minister Tuesday said a section of the judiciary was corrupt, claiming that there were instances where court judgments have been bought for money.

“She (Banerjee) is the chief minister, not a party cadre. She has taken the oath of office to obey the constitution. And the judiciary interprets the constitution,” said Adhir Chowdhury, Congress MP from Berhampore constituency of West Bengal.

“If I am alleging that judicial orders could be bought for money, I think it is an act against the constitution,” Chowdhury added.

Banerjee’s comment on the judiciary came a day after the state human rights commission slapped a Rs.50,000 fine on the police for arresting a Jadavpur University professor, Ambikesh Mahapatra, for circulating e-mails containing cartoons of the chief minister and other Trinamool Congress leaders in April this year.

“At times favourable verdicts are given in return for money. There are instances when judgments have been purchased. There is corruption among a section of the judiciary,” Banerjee had said during the state assembly’s platinum jubilee celebrations.

She also questioned the rationality of judicial commissions.

Reacting to Banerjee’s comments, her arch rival, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), also took a dig at her.

“When the decision of the human rights commission went against her, she is indirectly threatening the judiciary,” CPI-M leader Mohd Salim said.

State BJP president Rahul Sinha said the chief minister’s remarks were “derogatory” and would bring fourth “disasters in the future”.