Chief minister Mamata Banerjee urged the high court not to take away jobs of youths, whose appointments were found to be irregular and find out some other means and if required they could sit for an examination to retain their jobs.

She said this after installing a statue of Rishi Aurobindo at Alipore Court this afternoon.

Referring to a judgement of Justice Ashok Ganguly where he had said that the errant persons should be pulled up but should not be sacked. “I became emotional after getting the news that those two of them who lost jobs, committed suicide.”

Miss Banerjee said, “Why only the young teachers lose their jobs, pull up those who are responsible for the irregularities and the state government will execute the order.” She said a sum of Rs 45 crore would be allotted to set up a criminal court building at Alipore. The state government has allotted 10 acres of land to set up a new building of Calcutta High Court. She announced payment of another Rs 50,000 to the next of kin of 57 lawyers, who died during Covid. The state government had earlier paid Rs 50,000 to the next of kin of the deceased. She further said the lawyers would be brought under the Swasthya Sathi scheme. A camp will be held to issue them Swasthya Sathi cards.

The chief minister urged the Alipore Court authorities to allow the state government to display documents that are related to the Alipore bomb case where Sri Aurobindo was acquitted from the Alipore bomb case. “We have set up a museum at Alipore jail and if the documents are displayed there, then more people will be able to see them. The history students from the present generation do not show much interest to do research on the revolutionary movement. We want our next generation to do research on the freedom movement.”

Miss Banerjee, who is a law graduate and a member of the Bar Council, said, “At times, I feel that I should plead some cases in the court. I do not get time but I sincerely wish for it ,” said Miss Banerjee, who became emotional.

Rishi Aurobindo, who was arrested in connection with the Alipore Bomb case, was acquitted by the judge. Chittaranjan Das represented Sri Aurobindo’s case.