kolkata

During proceedings, the Supreme Court—acting through a bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and N. Kotishwar Singh—ordered that the trial court must frame charges within four weeks and commence the recording of witness testimony within two months. The bench also emphasised the necessity of a prompt trial initiation to uphold due process and mitigate the prolonged detention of an undertrial.

Partha Chatterjee, who was arrested by the ED in July 2022 and subsequently by the CBI in October 2024 for his alleged involvement in orchestrating irregular teacher recruitments, had already secured bail in the ED case earlier this year. However, the Group D allegations remain under the exclusive jurisdiction of the CBI Special Court in Alipore, whose refusal to grant bail has effectively forestalled his release, regardless of the Supreme Court’s recent directives. Legal experts suggest that the Supreme Court’s intervention may bolster Chatterjee’s prospects in the CBI court.

Historically, the Calcutta High Court had delivered a split verdict on bail in the ED case, with one judge supporting bail and another rejecting it. A subsequent bench dismissed his plea, prompting Chatterjee to move to the Supreme Court for relief. Earlier interim bail had been granted in that ED-linked case, but full release remained unattainable due to overlapping CBI proceedings.

The Supreme Court’s conditional bail underscores its concern over prolonged pre-trial incarceration, especially for individuals whose cases are mired in procedural delays. The bench’s directive to frame charges and begin hearings is meant to strike a balance between the necessity for a fair trial and protection of the accused’s rights. Nonetheless, the outcome now rests with the local trial court and CBI Special Court, where legal counsel for Chatterjee may leverage the Supreme Court’s stance to support bail in the pending Group D matter.