Acting HC chief justice urges lawyers to withdraw ceasework

The Acting Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court today appealed to the lawyers' associations for withdrawal of the ceasework which is scheduled to continue till April 2.

ACJ Justice J Bhattacharya met leaders of three lawyers' associations to discuss the prevailing impasse over the ongoing ceasework, which has crippled the institution for more than a month over demands for appointment of judges.

The ACJ and two other seniormost judges told the associations' representatives that every attempt is being made to expedite the process of recommending names for appointment as judges by the collegium of the high court, Bar Association secretary Amol Mukherjee said.

Mukherjee, who attended the meeting, said the judges appealed to the lawyers' associations for withdrawal of the ceasework.

"I have told the meeting that the general body of the Bar Association has in a majority resolution decided to extend the ceasework till April two over the demand for appointment of judges," Mukherjee said.

The ACJ, Justice D Kargupta and Justice Aniruddha Bose also said any untoward situation over the ceasework is not desirable, while referring to protests by some lawyers over an advocate's appearing before a court on March 19, he said.

Bar Library Club president Jayanta Mitra said ways and means for withdrawal of the ceasework was discussed by the judges with the representatives.

"We have assured cooperation in resolving the issue," Mitra said.

The three lawyers' associations, with the third being the Incorporated Law Society, extended the agitation on March 19 by another fortnight till April two.

The high court at present has 33 judges against a sanctioned strength of 72, of whom two are rotation at the Andaman and Nicobar Circuit bench.

The associations have also demanded the appointment of a chief justice to the high court, which has been presided by an acting chief justice for the last three years, with the exception of just three months.