Court appoints Amicus Curiae, impleads multiple State and police authorities, bar bodies, and calls for immediate withdrawal of lawyers' strikes disrupting court functioning.
In a significant suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) initiated on October 7, 2026, the Calcutta High Court took cognizance of a disturbing incident where an advocate, Mr. Sayan Banerjee, was attacked within the court premises of Baruipur after concluding a criminal proceeding. The attack involved unidentified assailants pelting eggs and shouting slogans against the advocate, raising serious concerns about safety and security in court complexes.
The High Court acted swiftly after receiving reports from the Superintendent of Police, South 24 Parganas, which included CCTV footage capturing an unknown individual throwing an object. The Court ordered the preservation of this footage to aid further investigations.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the Court directed the Registrar (Judicial) to formally register the matter as a suo motu PIL. To ensure a thorough examination of the issues, the Court appointed Senior Advocate Saikat Banerjee as Amicus Curiae to draft an appropriate PIL petition under the PIL Rules. The petition was filed with extensive annexures and proposed the addition of 71 respondents, including the State of West Bengal, Union of India, multiple District Magistrates, Superintendents of Police, various Police Commissionerates, Bar Associations, Bar Councils, and the Registrar General of the High Court.
The Court issued notices to all respondents with a returnable date set for December 11, 2026, allowing them to file affidavits and reports addressing the security lapses and other concerns raised.
Adding to the urgency, further untoward incidents were reported within the court premises of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kolkata, and Chandannagar in Hooghly district. Following these incidents, lawyers at these courts initiated strikes, severely hampering the judicial process and causing hardship to litigants. The High Court expressed its serious concern over these strikes, emphasizing that such actions are counterproductive and detrimental to litigants who rely on timely hearings of their cases.
To address the strike situation, the Court enlisted the help of Mr. Ajay Chaubey, a member of the West Bengal Bar Council, to engage with the Bar Associations involved and persuade them to withdraw the strikes immediately. The Court scheduled an urgent hearing on October 12, 2026, to receive updates on efforts to end the strike.
The State authorities assured the Court that security measures in all courts would be promptly strengthened to prevent recurrence of such violent incidents. The Court's decisive intervention underscores the imperative of maintaining safety within judicial premises and safeguarding the rights and dignity of legal practitioners and litigants alike.
Bottom Line:
Suo motu PIL concerning attack on an advocate within court premises and subsequent incidents leading to lawyers' strikes - High Court directed registration of PIL, impleadment of State authorities, police authorities, bar bodies and Registrar General, issuance of notice, preservation of CCTV footage, and immediate steps for strengthening security in all courts - Court also emphasized that strikes in court premises are against litigants' interest and directed efforts for their withdrawal.
Statutory provision(s):
Suo Motu Public Interest Litigation, PIL Rules (West Bengal), Court Security Measures (implied under State Police and Law Departments' duties)
Hon'ble Court on its own Motion v. NA, (Calcutta)(DB) : Law Finder Doc Id # 2993411
