The alleged spat took place when Justice Gangopadhyay was hearing a case on the alleged scam in MBBS recruitment on January 25 and directed a CBI investigation into “irregularities” despite a ruling to the contrary by a division bench led by Justice Soumen Sen.

Later in his order, he levelled serious charges against Justice Sen.

Following the issue, Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud set up a bench comprising himself and the four senior-most judges of the court and stayed all further proceedings at Calcutta High Court on the matter.

The letter written by the lawyers read, “We are constrained to invite your attention to an extremely untoward incident which took place on January 25…When Justice Gangopadhyay was apprised of the order dated January 24 of the division bench, he became incensed and made extremely uncharitable, demeaning and defamatory comments about the Advocate General (Kishore Dutta). The comments were unprovoked and uncalled for. Justice Gangopadhyay transgressed all limits of decorum by hurling insults and insinuations on the Advocate General.”

Justice Gangopadhyay cast aspersions on the character, moral fibre and integrity of the Advocate General, it added.

They demanded an apology from Justice Gangopadhyay in the matter. “We beseech you to please take immediate steps to redeem the honour and dignity of the court by seeking an apology from Justice Gangopadhyay,” the letter further read.

The High Court is not just an edifice of mere brick and mortar but built on time-honoured traditions, including the cordiality of relationship between the bar and the bench, the letter further stated.