Lawyers in West Bengal and Odisha disrupt court proceedings

Legal proceedings in West Bengal and Odisha have faced disruptions due to lawyer strikes and regional shutdowns.

In West Bengal, the Calcutta High Court expressed concern regarding strikes at the Bankshall and Chandannagar courts, noting the impact on the public. The court has directed the Bar Council to resolve the issue and requested measures to ensure lawyer safety following reports of physical attacks and vandalism against legal professionals. The High Court has also filed a public interest litigation regarding an attack on a lawyer in Baruipur.

In Odisha, lawyers at the Orissa High Court and lower courts in Cuttack stayed away from proceedings following a bandh call by the INDIA bloc. The Bar Association cited safety concerns and expected disruptions to road and rail connectivity. The association requested that judges accommodate absent members and refrain from passing adverse orders against parties whose lawyers could not attend due to the shutdown.