Calcutta HC lawyers cease work, citing hot weather

Even a rebuke from Chief Justice Manjula Chellur failed to move the Calcutta High Court lawyers who chose to stay away from work on Wednesday, citing hot and humid weather, inconveniencing litigants.

While the court rooms were open and the judges were present, the absence of the lawyers meant there was no hearing of the cases. The hearing for the anticipatory bail pleas of several of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) leaders also had to be deferred.

A court has issued arrest warrants against 23 GJM leaders, including its supremo Bimal Gurung, in the murder case of All India Gorkha League president Madan Tamang.

The chief justice, who on Tuesday rebuked the Bar Association after it submitted a resolution for cessation of court work till June 13 due to oppressive heat, yet again expressed her displeasure calling the lawyers' decision as "painful and irritating".

"This is childish. Lawyers are behaving like school children. It's like school students pleading with their madam to grant them leave because of the heat outside," the chief justice said on Tuesday after the Bar Association submitted the resolution for cessation of work.