West Bengal Bar Council calls for ceasework after attack on lawyers

Protesting alleged attack on lawyers at Howrah district court, the Bar Council of West Bengal Thursday requested bar associations of all courts in the state to observe ceasework from Friday to Monday. The chief justice of Calcutta High Court has called for a report on the incident.

Lawyers at the high court did not attend work on Thursday in protest against the Howrah court incident. Alleging high handedness on the part of the police in controlling a clash between the lawyers and workers of Howrah municipality on Wednesday, council chairman Ashok Deb also demanded action against those guilty.

"We have requested all bar associations to observe a ceasework from April 26 to April 29," he said, adding that the Bar Council will review the situation on Monday and decide on further action. Senior counsel Bikash Bhattacharya mentioned Wednesday's clash between the lawyers and municipal workers and police action before the Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court, Justice T B N Radhakrishnan and prayed for suo motu cognisance of the incident.

The chief justice said that he has called for a report from the administration on the incident.

(With inputs from agencies.)