Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court on Monday praised the police for easing office commute in central Kolkata from 9 am to 11 am. However, it criticised the HC Bar Association’s “attitude towards work” for its resolution, asking HC Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam to condone lawyers’ absence in court due to rally-related traffic snarls.Justice Tirthankar Ghosh, who on Friday directed the police to ensure a seamless office commute on rally day, mentioned in open court during a hearing: “Roads have been maintained well. The police have done that.” To this, senior lawyer Billwadal Bhattacharyya told the judge that it took him the usual 24 minutes to reach the HC from his New Alipore home. Two other senior lawyers echoed him.However, in contrast, the HC Bar Association on Monday wrote to CJ Sivagnanam that their past experience shows that the political rally on July 21 disrupted traffic and brought central Kolkata to a standstill. The bar association’s one-page letter argued that while physical appearances of lawyers were impossible, even virtual appearances would be futile. The Bar Association then appealed to the CJ to condone the absence of lawyers and not to pass ex parte orders.Justice Ghosh questioned this. “There is nothing on the road. Unnecessary reasoning is being taken. Attitude to work is very important. You have taken such a resolution that it becomes impossible for courts to work. The bar should have also taken some steps, but there has been no effort on the part of the bar. You could have attended virtually also.” Agreeing with the judge’s displeasure, Bhattacharyya responded, “These resolutions are a stumbling block,” and stated that in a time when technology permits the lawyers to appear online, this should not be an excuse.Counsel for the All India Lawyers Union, Samim Ahammed, told TOI that the Calcutta HC order was not placed before the Bar Association when the resolution was taken. He went to the HC on Monday for a few cases and said that he did not find any obstruction, except for encountering a rally at around 10:15 am near the stadium. “Overall it was much smoother compared to last year. I must thank the Kolkata Police for their conduct today. Today showed that if police want, they can enforce the order of the court,” he said.During the day’s hearing before Justice Ghosh, the counsel for the respondent was running late, hence the matter could not be heard. The advocate’s junior said, “Vehicles are not plying on the road. Many people take public transport.” To which Ghosh replied, “Whatever it is, it is not impossible that people cannot come by 10:30 am.”
