Calcutta HC judge recuses from Suvendu Adhikari cases

KOLKATA: Calcutta HC Justice Rajasekhar Mantha on Thursday recused from hearing cases pertaining to FIRs against state assembly opposition leader and BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari.
Justice Mantha released the two cases on the ground that his court did not have time for prolonged hearings, reports Subrata Chattoraj. Last December, he had stayed proceedings on all 26 FIRs against Adhikari till his court heard the BJP leader's petition seeking transfer of all the cases to a central investigating agency for "an impartial probe".
When the matter came up for hearing on Thursday, Justice Mantha observed: "Why this court? Why are matters that other courts have released being assigned to this court? There are 53 judges in the high court at present. Any court can hear these petitions. This court does not have the time for prolonged hearings."
Justice Partha Sarathi Sen had earlier recused from hearing the matter. Calcutta High Court Chief Justice-designate T S Sivagnanam had then assigned the matter to Justice Mantha.