Apex court sets aside CPI-M leader’s jail term

NEW DELHI - The Supreme Court Wednesday set aside a three-day jail sentence awarded to West Bengal Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) secretary Biman Bose in a contempt case.

Bose was convicted and sentenced by the Calcutta High Court in a case of criminal contempt.

Bose was sentenced to three days imprisonment and slapped a fine of Rs.10,000 for criticizing the high court verdict banning shutdowns.

Bose invited the criminal contempt of the court after he publicly criticized Justice Amitava Lala’s order banning shutdowns in Kolkata from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

An apex court bench of Justice B. Sudershan Reddy and Justice S.S. Nijjar allowed the appeal by Bose challenging his conviction and sentencing.

The apex court stayed the sentence of Bose April 26, 2005.

The high court said that even on weekends and other holidays the processions and rallies would be confined to limited Kolkata areas like Brigade Ground, Rani Rosmani Road and Shahid Minar.

Bose, who led the agitation both against the ban order and its author judge, was convicted and sentenced for “unfair criticism” of the court and the judge. He was held guilty of contempt.

Justice Lala passed the order after he was himself caught in a traffic jam.

Justice Lala in his order said that participants in procession would not block the traffic and if they did so then all those who will be affected will be entitled to compensation by the organisers of the rally or procession.