Kolkata High Court Justice Mr. Sabyasachi Bhattacharyya issued a notice for “Contempt of Court” against two sitting judges of West Bengal State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (WBSCDRC) on Monday (Nov. 29) after PBT president,Dr. Kunal Saha, was obstructed to appear and argue a case of alleged medical negligence before two judges, Mrs. Dipa Sen, presiding member and Mr. Shyamal Kumar Ghosh, member, in court no. 3 of WBSCDRC. On behalf of PBT, Dr. Saha has been helping victims of medical negligence by appearing before the consumer courts across India including the National Consumer Forum (NCDRC) frequently coming from his permanent residence in USA at his own expense. However, a group of lawyers have been strongly opposing Dr. Saha’s selfless efforts to help medical victims find justice by regularly challenging his appearance in court. Earlier this year, Calcutta High Court categorically ruled that Dr. Saha has fundamental right to appear and argue on behalf of victims of medical negligence before any judicial and quasi-judicial bodies in India and that he should not be obstructed in doing so. But Dr. Saha was stopped again by WBSCDRC from arguing before the court no. 3 on behalf of a victim of alleged medical negligence as the advocates for the accused doctor/hospital challenged Dr. Saha’s authority to argue and the court adjourned the case allowing the advocates to file a formal application challenging Dr. Saha’s appearance despite Dr. Saha’s earnest submission that Calcutta High Court already decided this issue. Since the case was adjourned anyway, Dr. Saha himself moved Calcutta High Court with a “Contempt of Court” petition against the two judges of WBSCDRC as the High Court admitted his petition and issued contempt notice against the two judges giving 2 weeks time for their response and fixing December 20, 2021 for next hearing of this historic contempt case against sitting consumer commission judges (see below the news on this).
Statesman (Nov. 30, 2021) Contempt by Consumer Forum
