The Supreme Court on Friday strongly criticized the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for making unfounded allegations against the judiciary in West Bengal while seeking the transfer of post-poll violence cases out of the state.
A bench led by Justices Abhay S. Oka and Pankaj Mithal expressed concern over the CBI’s claims that courts in West Bengal were functioning in a “hostile environment” and were granting bail illegally. The court found these accusations to be highly inappropriate, as they cast doubt on the integrity of the entire judiciary in the state.
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju, who represented the CBI, acknowledged that the petition contained poorly worded sections and offered to make amendments. However, the bench insisted that the petition be withdrawn, noting that transferring the cases based on such claims would imply that the judiciary in West Bengal was not functioning properly.
The court highlighted that it was wrong to generalize issues with particular judicial officers as problems affecting the entire judiciary. The justices emphasized that judges, particularly those at the district and civil levels, could not be left to defend themselves against such sweeping accusations.
The transfer petition, filed in December 2022, sought to relocate cases due to concerns over witness intimidation and potential threats to the course of justice. The court had issued a notice on the petition in February 2023, but the ASG eventually withdrew it following the court’s sharp criticism.