from The Hindu
Kolkata (PTI): Most lawyers across the state on Tuesday observed a ceasework at the call of West Bengal Bar Council in protest against the recent violence in Nandigram, as a PIL was moved before the Calcutta High Court challenging the agitation.
Cases could not be taken up in the over 500 courts in the state, including the High Court, as lawyers did not attend.
The ceasework was observed against the violence and atrocities on women at Nandigram, the role of the state police and verbal attacks on the Governor and the High Court, Council Chairman Jyotipriyo Mallick said.
Mallick said that the ceasework was totally successful and had the support of lawyers.
A procession of lawyers was also taken out from the Sealdah court to the Gandhi statue demanding proper law and order in the state and neutral role of police.
The PIL challenging the decision of the Council to hold a ceasework was filed by Basabi Roy Chowdhury and moved by senior counsel Subroto Mukhopadhyay, who is also the assistant secretary of the High Court unit of the Democratic Lawyers Association, the CPI(M)'s lawyers' wing.
Mukhopadhyay, submitting before a division bench presided by Chief Justice S S Nijjar, said that as per a Supreme Court judgement of 2006, lawyers could not resort to strikes whatever may be the cause.
He claimed that the ceasework was a violation of the apex court order. The matter would be heard on wednesday.
