A day of embarrassments for Bengal govt

The Mamata Banerjee government on Monday suffered a double embarrassment before the Supreme Court in the Sandeshkhali and illegal appointments cases when it refused to grant relief to the government

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The Supreme Court came down heavily on the State Government for coming before it with plea to quash the CBI probe into allegations of sexual assault and forcible land grabbing from Sandeshkhali by suspended Trinamool Congress leader Shahjahan Sheikh.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta asked why the State should be aggrieved in the matter.

"Why should the State file a petition to protect some private entities? Why should the State come here in this case?" a bench of Justices B.R. Gavai and Sandeep Mehta asked the West Bengal Government, represented by senior advocates Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Jaideep Gupta.

The counsel contended that there were observations and comments made by the Calcutta High Court's division bench, which were "not fair as the State has taken efforts in the matter".

"So, you go and get that expunged in the High Court... why come here?" Justice Sandeep Mehta asked.

The court finally allowed the plea for adjournment and posted the matter in July.