Kolkata/New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Saturday halted all proceedings before a single judge and a division bench of the Calcutta High Court due to an unusual conflict, media reports said.

This disagreement arose over the investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into an alleged fake caste certificate scam.

During a special hearing, Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud led a five-judge bench, taking note of the accusations of 'misconduct' made by Calcutta High Court Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay against fellow judge Soumen Sen, according to media reports.

The Supreme Court will take up the matter again on January 29 (Monday), media reports said.

Justice Gangopadhyay alleged that Justice Sen was "acting clearly for some political party in this state" and exerting pressure on another judge to favour a political leader in West Bengal.

In the course of the hearing, the Supreme Court issued a notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and sought a response from the West Bengal government regarding the issue.

The court also served a notice to the petitioner over his plea before the Calcutta High Court in connection with the purported fake caste certificates scam.

The fake certificate scam

On January 24, a petition was submitted to the Calcutta High Court, expressing concerns about the large number of counterfeit caste certificates issued in West Bengal. The petitioner claimed that numerous individuals had obtained these fraudulent certificates to secure admission to state-run medical colleges.

The dispute

At first, the case was presented before Justice Gangopadhyay on the morning of January 24. The judge not only criticized both the West Bengal Police and the state government but also issued an order for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the matter.

Unhappy with the ruling, the Trinamool Congress-led West Bengal government moved the division bench of Justice Sen, and managed to obtain an interim stay on the single bench order.

However, the single bench of Justice Gangopadhyay directed that the CBI investigation would continue, notwithstanding the order from the division bench.

Justice Gangopadhyay instructed the registrar general of the High Court to immediately send a copy of this order to both the Chief Justice of India and the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court.

He accused Justice Sen of acting in his personal interest, attempting to shield "some political party in power" in West Bengal.