Calcutta High Court advocates have decided to stay away from work till 18 April as part of a protest against…
Calcutta High Court (Photo: Twitter)
Calcutta High Court advocates have decided to stay away from work till 18 April as part of a protest against the appointment of sufficient number of judges and other demands.
The men and women in band and gown have been agitating since 19 February. They decided to continue with the protest after Calcutta High Court Bar Association together with Bar Library Club and Incorporated Law Society, today resolved to extend their abstainment period. They had earlier extended their staying away from work till Monday.
Speaking on behalf of the participants, Bar Association president Uttam Majumdar said with the Centre yet not approving the list of names of advocates whose names have been shortlisted Supreme Court collegium to fill the vacant posts of judges in Calcutta High Court, little option was left but to prolong the period of staying away from work. The next course of action would be decided on 19 June.
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In Calcutta High Court there are only 33 judges against a vacancy of 72 ~ a number much lower than that in most of the high courts in the country ~ Majumdar said.
However, the advocates softened their stand on the number of judges to be appointed. Some had earlier demanded the appointment of at least 40 judges to end their period of abstainment, Majumdar said.
During the day they said the appointment of three more judges, bringing the number to 36 amounting to 50 per cent of the sanctioned strength, should be a pre-requisite to call off the stir.
“I fail to understand why the Centre is dragging its feet over the appointment of judges,” Majumdar said. It seems to be oblivious to the plight of the litigants seeking redress in the Calcutta High Court, he added.
“We admit the advocates staying away is causing hardship to the litigants. But unless, the Union government takes note of their plight and appoints more judges, the litigants grievances will not be addressed,” Majumdar said.
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