Calcutta High Court lawyers' ceasework extended till April 18

Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court Bar Association at a general body meeting on Tuesday decided to extend their ongoing ceasework till April 18.

The ceasework for the lawyers had started on February 19 with the demand of filling up the vacant posts of judges at Calcutta High Court. The two other associations - Bar Library Club and Incorporated Law Society also followed the suit in view of the decision taken by the largest body of lawyers.

The lawyers have decided to sit for a meeting on April 19 to review the situation and take a decision. "The Bar Association has taken a resolution that they will continue their ceasework till the long pending vacancy of the judges in the high court is filled up. Our protest will continue till April 18," Bar Association president Uttam Majumdar said. There were nearly 500 lawyers who were present in the meeting.

According to the lawyers, only three judges have been appointed since the agitation began on February 19, taking the number of sitting judges to 33 which falls short of even half the number of the sanctioned strength of 72 judges for the high court. Representatives of the three lawyers' associations had met Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on March 17 and the Chief Justice of India on March 16 over filling up of vacancies at the high court.

"The Ministry of Law has not given any time frame in filling up the posts of judges," a member of the Bar Association said. The Bar Library Club members have extended solidarity to the Bar Association and decided to extend the cease work till April 18. There are more than 3 lakh cases that are pending at the Calcutta High Court.