Jalpaiguri bench set for launch.... Judges inspect facilities

Chief Justice Jyotirmay Bhattacharya receives a guard of honour on the premises of the temporary building of the circuit bench in Jalpaiguri on Saturday. Picture by Biplab Basak

TT, Jalpaiguri: An eight-member team from Calcutta High Court led by Chief Justice Jyotirmay Bhattacharya and comprising seven other judges on Saturday inspected the temporary infrastructure that has been readied for the circuit bench of the high court here.

State ministers Moloy Ghatak and Gautam Deb, SJDA chairman Sourav Chakraborty and senior officials of Jalpaiguri were present. The team visited a number of sites.

These included the building prepared as a temporary location for the bench, the accommodation for the chief justice and judges, accommodation for employees and the land where the permanent infrastructure will come up.

None from the team spoke to the media. State law minister Moloy Ghatak was brief in his reactions, when asked about tentative date for opening of the bench, a longstanding demand of Jalpaiguri residents and that of north Bengal.

Earlier, chief minister Mamata Banerjee had said the circuit bench was likely to be inaugurated on August 17.

"The Chief Justice and other judges of Calcutta High Court have seen the infrastructure for the circuit bench.... I will be in Jalpaiguri again on August 16. So far, there hasn't been any change in the tentative date," Ghatak said.

Earlier, on March 18, the chief justice had visited Jalpaiguri. During that trip, he had given some instructions to the state law department on the temporary infrastructure.

"Almost all necessary work has been done. The chief minister is eager to see that the circuit bench starts functioning from here which would largely help the north Bengal residents. We are hopeful that the long aspiration of the people would be met soon," said Sourav Chakraborty, the Alipurduar MLA.