Mamata vs Mamata

Rattled by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees remarks alleging corruption in the judiciary,a group of lawyers moved the Calcutta High Court,urging it to start suo motu contempt proceedings against her. While a division bench had robustly declared that it was not perturbed by personal remarks,the contempt plea was later admitted by the court. The remarks had been provoked by the State Human Rights Commissions order to the state government to compensate a professor who was arrested in the cartoon row. A furious Banerjee lashed out at the judiciary,before launching into a personal attack on the SHRC chairperson.

This airing of a pet peeve in a public space has been slammed by all quarters. Political parties,from the CPM to the BJP,have condemned it. Even the Congress,the Trinamool Congresss ally at the Centre and in Bengal,attempted only a feeble defence. It mumbled about Banerjees intention to protect the independence of the judiciary. Meanwhile,the legal fraternity has called Banerjee irresponsibleand expressed fears of a Constitution in peril. The angry reactions across the board show that the judiciary as an institution is under no threat. Surely,then,it has the self-assurance to weather the odd,even irresponsible,potshot?

Banerjees injudicious outburst was unlikely to do wonders for her wilting public image. But she has seized the contempt notice to project herself as a CM under siege,declaring that she would repeat herself a thousand times. A comment made in the heat of the moment may now be turned into a battle cry. Everyone could have been spared this spectacle if the court had treated Banerjees outburst with what it deserved a splendid disdain.