Bengal governor unhappy over lawyers avoiding work due to heat

Expressing displeasure over Calcutta High Court lawyers going on a self-declared three-day holiday citing heat, West Bengal Governor K.N. Tripathi on Sunday said heat was no reason for a person to desist from performing his duties.

Despite a rebuke from Chief Justice Manjula Chellur, the Bar Association passed a resolution for a three-day cessation of work beginning Wednesday citing excessive heat.

While the courts remained open and judges were present, majority of the lawyers stayed away from work resulting in delay of hearing of cases.

Expressing her angst over the issue, the chief justice has called the lawyers "school children".

"Lawyers are behaving like school children. It's like school students pleading with their madame to grant them leave because of the heat outside. This is quite unfortunate," Chellur has said after the Bar Association submitted its resolution for cessation of work on Tuesday.

Reacting to the issue, the governor said the lawyers should have paid heed to Chellur's advice.

"Heat is not something which can desist a person from discharging his duties. The lawyers should have paid due attention to the advice of the chief justice," Tripathi told media persons here.