In response to a disturbing incident involving the heckling of lawyers by a mob, the Calcutta High Court has taken decisive action by ordering the filing of petitions to address the matter thoroughly. The directive came from a division bench led by Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam on Monday.
The incident in question occurred on April 25, when senior advocate Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya and his associates were reportedly surrounded and verbally assaulted by a group outside their chambers, directly opposite the high court building. The lawyers affected by this incident believe the aggressors were connected to certain litigants.
Following the event, the Chief Justice’s bench, which also includes Justice Chaitali Chatterjee (Das), ordered the petitioners to notify the office of the Advocate General, Additional Solicitor General, and the secretaries of the Bar Association, the Bar Library Club, and the Incorporated Law Society of the high court.
Chief Justice Sivagnanam highlighted the seriousness with which the court views the safety of its members, stating that the petitions, once registered, should be promptly brought before him for further orders. He also noted that the matter had been brought to his attention on the evening of April 25, prompting immediate communication with the police and the Advocate General.
Advocate General Kishore Dutta assured the Chief Justice later that evening that the police had cleared the area of any disturbances. The court has also requested a detailed report from the police to prevent such incidents in the future and to ensure the security of legal professionals within the vicinity of the court.
