Calcutta HC administration frames rules on lawyers' strike

The Calcutta High Court administration has framed rules that consider strike by lawyers as interference to dispensation of justice in accordance with a Supreme Court order that said lawyers have no right to strike.

A 69-day ceasework called by lawyers' associations from February had severely affected the justice delivery system at the Calcutta High Court.

The administration told a division bench of Chief Justice Jyotirmoy Bhattacharya and Justice Arijit Banerjee that the rules will be placed before the full court for approval.

Petitioner A K Sarangi had moved a PIL seeking direction to the high court administration to comply with the apex court's direction by framing appropriate rules under Section 34 of the Advocates Act, 1961 to make it clear that strikes by advocates will be considered interference with the administration of justice and for taking action against advocates who resort to ceasework.

The counsel representing the high court administration submitted before the bench that "the rules have been framed and are waiting to be placed before the full court for approval."