3-Judge Special HC Bench Constituted To Hear Rule Of Contempt Order Issued By Justice Mantha Against Some Advocates

The assignment order, dated January 12, named a three-judge special bench comprising Justice T S Sivagnanam, Justice I P Mukerji, and Justice Chitta Ranjan Dash to hear the suo motu rule of contempt order issued by Justice Mantha on January 10.

Protests were held by a section of lawyers outside Justice Mantha's courtroom on January 9 over certain orders passed by him. Posters listing allegations against him were found pasted outside his residence here.

Issuing the rule of contempt against a section of advocates as well as some others who allegedly blocked his courtroom and locked it from the outside, Justice Rajasekhar Mantha said that the acts amount to interference in the administration of justice.

Observing that this is a matter of grave importance concerning the dignity of this court he had directed that the matter be placed before Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava for the constitution of an appropriate bench to hear this matter.

Recently, on January 12, the Bar Council of India also constituted a three-member Fact-Finding Committee with regard to the recent protest in the Calcutta High Court by the lawyers. (Read Report).

The Bar Council of West Bengal also on January 13 decided to observe the “Black Day of Lawyers” to protest against such an incident and has ordered to comply with the decision by putting Black Tag on the chest on Monday i.e., on January 16 from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.