The Calcutta High Court took suo motu cognisance of an incident involving alleged mob intimidation of lawyers, including senior advocate Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya. The Court, expressing concern over the safety and dignity of legal professionals, constituted a special three-judge bench to consider the issue. A brief but notable observation from the Chief Justice highlighted the need for immediate institutional response to threats faced by members of the Bar.
The matter pertains to an alleged episode that occurred on April 25, 2025, outside the Calcutta High Court premises. Senior advocate Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya and his colleagues were purportedly surrounded and heckled by a group of individuals near their chamber. It was claimed by some advocates that the individuals involved were potentially connected to litigants. The matter was brought to the attention of the Chief Justice by a group of concerned advocates on the same day.
Following this, the bench presided over by Chief Justice T. S. Sivagnanam, along with Justice Chaitali Chatterjee, directed that formal writ petitions be registered in connection with the incident. The Court also ordered that notices be served to key legal representatives, including the offices of the Advocate General, the Additional Solicitor General, and the secretaries of the Bar Association, Bar Library Club, and the Incorporated Law Society of the High Court.
The counsel representing the lawyers urged the Court to treat the issue with utmost urgency. They submitted that such acts of mob intimidation, especially targeting members of the legal fraternity, undermined the sanctity of the judicial process. They further informed the Court that police complaints had already been lodged, and requested that the Court seek a report from the concerned law enforcement authorities. They emphasized that the involvement of the police was essential not only for accountability but also to deter recurrence of such conduct.
Upon being informed of the incident on the evening of April 25, Chief Justice Sivagnanam directed the Registrar General to notify the Deputy Commissioner of Police of the concerned area. He further stated in open court that the Advocate General of West Bengal was requested to intervene immediately. The Advocate General, in response, confirmed that the situation had been brought under control and the premises cleared of any potential threat by that evening.
The Chief Justice observed, "This Court cannot remain a silent spectator when its officers of the court are subjected to physical and verbal intimidation. The independence of the legal profession is fundamental to the administration of justice, and any threat to it must be addressed promptly and firmly."
In light of the seriousness of the issue, the Chief Justice constituted a three-judge bench comprising Justice Arijit Banerjee, Justice Sabyasachi Bhattacharyya, and Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj to hear the matter in detail. The case is expected to be listed for hearing later this week.
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