The Calcutta High Court questioned whether the state is going through an ongoing financial emergency. Despite repeated reminders of various judicial expenses that have remained overdue for a long time. Finally, on Monday, the High Court has also warned of freezing the state's consolidated fund at the Reserve Bank. Among the massive the state has not paid BSNL ₹5 crore 66 lakh for phone and internet services at the High Court over the past three years. The division bench of Justice Debangsu Basak and Justice Shabbar Rashidi erupted in intense anger after learning this. The division bench repeatedly asked state lawyers for information about the state's account number at the Reserve Bank so that an order to freeze the account could be issued the same day.
State lawyers faced the Court's further wrath when they sought two days of time. Eventually, the lawyers saved the state from the immediate crisis of account freezing by informing that ₹2.94 crore of the phone-internet bill would be released the same day and stating positive steps would be taken regarding the remaining dues within a few days. However, they also acknowledged that what happened was completely undesirable. They expressed their helplessness.
The bench stated that the state's chief secretary had appeared virtually twice, responding to the High Court's summons during hearings regarding the judiciary dues. Even after that, how has the state blocked clearances of worth ₹90 crore in at least 36 projects? Justice Basak stated that BSNL's three-year bills are pending! What will happen if the internet service shuts down? We are speechless at the state's role.
As state lawyers repeatedly sought time and pleaded, the Court announced that the next hearing will take place on November 10. Before that, state representatives will have to meet with the High Court's Registrar General on October 29 and November 6. The Finance Secretary must be present at the meeting. Incidentally, following earlier orders, such meetings were held for two days in October. But seeing no positive results in actually clearing the dues, the Court expressed strong anger.
The Court questioned whether allocating funds for the High Court's work falls under the state's administrative duties or not. Why haven't BSNL's bills been paid for three years? The frustrated judge commented, saying If this is the condition of the High Court, what's happening in district Courts is easily imaginable! The Court stated that the state must take steps to clear all dues before the next hearing. Otherwise, the High Court will take legal action. The High Court stated that meeting judiciary expenses is the state's responsibility. The state cannot evade this responsibility.
