HC stays Councillor Kajari Banerjee's notice to Rani Birla college's principal

The Calcutta High Court has put a spotlight on the appointment of Kolkata's Ward No. 73 Councillor Kajari Banerjee as president of the management committee of Rani Birla Girls’ College. In a significant move, the court has questioned her suitability for the post, emphasizing that the role requires a person with a background in education.

The court's intervention came after the college principal, Srabanti Bhattacharya, filed a petition challenging a show-cause notice issued to her by Kajari Banerjee on July 3 and a subsequent suspension order on August 29. While granting an eight-week stay on these orders, the court indicated that the very appointment of Kajari Banerjee itself needs to be legally examined.

The case was initially heard by Justice Biswajit Bose, who issued an interim order. However, the case took a dramatic turn when the Advocate General sought his recusal. Despite expressing displeasure, Justice Bose withdrew from the matter, which was then taken up by Justice Bivas Patnaik’s bench.

Justice Patnaik issued a show-cause notice to the chairman of the management committee and temporarily stayed the decisions taken by it. The judge observed that under a 2017 law, the college’s management committee should be formed through a specific process. However, the current committee is reportedly being run by five individuals nominated by the state government, a situation that the judge said requires a detailed hearing.