The Bar Association of the Calcutta High Court and the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) Bar Association in Calcutta have announced that their members will abstain from judicial proceedings on August 22, 2025. The move is a protest against the alleged “brutal and barbaric attack” by police personnel on a practicing advocate, Manujendra Narayan Roy, which resulted in a fractured pelvic bone. Both associations are demanding “proper and satisfactory punitive measure” against the police personnel involved.
Background of the Incident
According to a notice issued by the High Court Bar Association, Advocate Manujendra Narayan Roy, a practicing lawyer at the Calcutta High Court, was allegedly assaulted by police personnel from the Bidhan Nagar East Police Station on the night of August 20, 2025, at A.K. Block. The attack was described as “brutal and barbaric” and resulted in the advocate suffering a “fracture of pelvic bone”. The notice from the CAT Bar Association also states that Mr. Roy was “beaten by some Police Officials of Bidhannagar East Police Station”.
High Court Bar Association’s Resolution
In response to a complaint lodged by Mr. Roy, the High Court Bar Association convened an “Urgent General Body Meeting” on August 21, 2025. In a notice addressed to the Hon’ble Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, the Hony. Secretary, Sankar Prasad Dalapati, stated that the meeting unanimously resolved to protest the police action.
The resolution states that “as a mark of protest against the police atrocities perpetrated upon Manujendra Narayan Roy,” the members of the Bar Association “will not participate in any judicial proceedings in any mode and manner before this Hon’ble Court tomorrow i.e. 22.08.2025 from 10:30 am onwards”.
The abstention will continue “until proper and satisfactory punitive measure and/or action is taken against the erring police personnel who deliberately and brutally assaulted Manujendra Narayan Roy”. The Bar Association has scheduled a review of the situation for Monday, August 25, 2025, at 10:30 am, pending information on what actions have been taken against the police personnel.
Copies of the notice were forwarded to the Additional Solicitor General, the Advocate General of West Bengal, the Bar Library Club, the Incorporated Law Society, and the Bar Association at the Circuit Bench in Jalpaiguri.
CAT Bar Association Expresses Solidarity
The Central Administrative Tribunal Bar Association, Calcutta, also issued a notice announcing a similar protest. Addressed to the Hon’ble HOD of the Central Administrative Tribunal, Calcutta Bench, the notice expressed “great annoyance” over the incident.
The association declared, “we, being the members of legal fraternity, are raising our voices not only against the lawlessness incident but for also every person who has been abused, silenced, or intimidated by those in power”. It further added, “Violence by authorities is not discipline it is not Justice-it is abuse of Power”.
As a mark of protest, the CAT Bar Association has “decided to abstain ourself from participating in any Judicial Process tomorrow i.e. on 22.08.2025 from 11 A.M. onwards”. The notice, signed by the Secretary, Bishnu Pada Manna, emphasizes the strength of the legal community, stating, “When we speak out, when we demand accountability, we show that no baton, no fist, no uniform is stronger than the will of the Lawyers”.
