Sexist remark: Bengal AG likens SEC to 'a beautiful lady making demands', stirsup row-

 

 

The Indian Express
05.06.2013.

Sexist remark: Bengal AG likens SEC to 'a beautiful lady making demands', stirs up row -
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Express news service : Kolkata, Wed Jun 05 2013, 09:36 hrs

THE state election commission (SEC), which has been at odds with the Mamata Banerjee government since months over the holding of panchayat elections, was on Tuesday compared to a "beautiful lady who makes new demands every day" by Advocate General Bimal Chatterjee.
The seniormost legal officer, while putting forth the argument of the state government in the Calcutta High Court, also said the commission was suffering from "paranoia".

The AG's sexist remark about the SEC, which, incidentally, is headed by a woman, Meera Pandey, ruffled feathers inside the courtroom with poll panel counsel L C Bihan almost storming out of the courtroom in protest.

Chatterjee, while responding to the SEC's application seeking the state government's total compliance with the court's May 14 order, likened the poll panel's demands on strengthening of security arrangements and other related issues, to the whims of a beautiful lady.

"One after the other, like a beautiful lady, new demands are being made by the commission," Chatterjee.

"Arbitrary and whimsical demands are being made by the commission, this is what I had meant to say," Chatterjee went on to submit before the Division Bench of Chief Justice Arun Mishra and Justice Joymalyo Bagchi.

Bihan immediately flagged the AG, saying such remarks were undignified and cannot be accepted. As he prepared to leave, Chief Justice Mishra intervened, requesting him not to leave the room while asking both the sides to refrain from continuing with the subject.

Later, speaking to the mediapersons, Bihani said the AG's comment was targeted at state election commissioner Meera Pandey. "It was not an issue of a beautiful lady or an ugly lady as it was not a beauty contest. Such remarks cannot be accepted," he said.

The AG, however, sought to clarify that he was only drawing a similarity between the whims of a beautiful lady and demands of the commission. PTI quoted him as saying: "Commission is an institution and I have referred to the institution, not the commissioner. She (Meera Pandey) is most respectable."

Earlier, during the argument, the AG also hit out at the commission's demand for strengthening the security, saying the poll panel was suffering from "paranoia" as it has been demanding a large number of security forces. He also accused the poll panel of wasting public money by approaching the High Court for the resolution of the issue. Bihani, however, interjected and told the court that SEC counsel Samaraditya Pal has not charged any money from the commission.

Meanwhile, the High Court directed the state government to arrange security forces in compliance with its May 14 order. Besides, the state government will have to provide security forces as demanded in the letter written by the SEC to the state government on May 22, the court directed.

On May 22, the commission had written a letter to the state government giving the district-wise details about the requirement of security forces for polling date, for filing of nomination papers and for "area domination" and confidence-building measures of the voters.

Cong demands his resignation

THE Congress on Tuesday demanded the resignation of Bimal Chatterjee as the state's Advocate General, saying his remarks were "unimaginable and disrespectful to a woman". "The ruling (Trinamool) party has appointed such people, who do not know how to react and how to talk, in responsible position ," said state Congress chief Pradip Bhattcharya.

UNBECOMING of an AG: TMC MP

TRINAMOOL MP Kalyan Banerjee, who is also a lawyer, also slammed the AG for his comment saying it was unbecoming of an AG to make such remark . "We cannot even imagine about making such comment. This kind of comments cannot be made in the court," he said.