The Calcutta High Court has directed the West Bengal government to report on the action taken after an attack at the East Jadavpur residence of lawyer and CPI(M) leader Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, amid concerns over the safety of lawyers who oppose the state government.
A division bench headed by Chief Justice Ravindra V Ghughe took note of the incident during proceedings on Thursday after lawyer Kalyan Banerjee urged the court to intervene. The state has been directed to inform the court on Friday about the steps taken in connection with attacks on lawyers.
According to the report, a masked man attacked Bhattacharya’s house earlier on Thursday morning and threw liquor bottles at the windows, breaking the glass. The individual allegedly shouted abuses while referring to Bhattacharya by name. Images of the incident were captured by the house’s closed-circuit television cameras.
Banerjee told the court that lawyers opposing the state government were in a vulnerable position and wanted to cease work. He also questioned the police and intelligence agencies over the response to attacks on lawyers. The court, however, indicated that stopping court work would ultimately create an obstacle to the functioning of the justice system.
The proceedings also referred to alleged attacks involving Banerjee and Shamim Ahmed. The court asked what action had followed the filing of first information reports in those cases. The state’s Additional Advocate General said the police would take firm measures, while also referring to an earlier incident under a previous government in which slogans were raised outside a judge’s residence.
The court observed that security at the High Court could be increased, but said it would not be possible to station police personnel at every individual’s home. The distinction places the immediate question of lawyers’ protection within two separate security responsibilities: safeguarding court premises and responding to threats or attacks at private residences.
The incident has drawn condemnation from leaders of the Trinamool Congress, including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, according to the report. The court’s intervention now requires the state to place its response on record, including the action taken after the reported attacks and the relevant first information reports.
The state is expected to provide the court with details of the steps taken by Friday’s hearing. The court may also consider measures to strengthen security at the High Court.
