Supreme Court Elevates Judge Mamata Banerjee Accused Of Bias

Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee had opposed the confirmation of Justice Kaushik Chanda as a Permanent Judge of Calcutta High Court

Kaushik Chanda, an Additional Judge of Calcutta High Court whom the Supreme Court Collegium has appointed as a Permanent Judge, was in West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's line of fire over his alleged proximity to BJP and the Trinamool Congress leader had opposed his confirmation. Justice Chanda on July 7 recused himself from hearing a petition by the Trinamool Congress chief challenging the election of Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari from Nandigram after she expressed apprehension of bias against her by the judge. The Collegium headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana met on August 17 and approved the proposal. The statement was uploaded on the Supreme Court's website on Thursday. Besides Chief Justice Ramana, Justices U U Lalit and A M Khanwilkar are part of the three-member Collegium which takes decisions with regard to the appointment of high court judges.