Justice Rajasekhar Mantha of Calcutta High Court prevented from holding court by protesting TMC lawyers

Justice Rajasekhar Mantha of the Calcutta High Court on Monday morning faced the ire of several lawyers affiliated with the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), who gathered outside his courtroom and prevented him from continuing with proceedings..The lawyers, part of the TMC's Legal Cell, staged a protest alleging that the judge "protected" BJP's Suvendu Adhikari, who is also the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in West Bengal, by passing an order granting him 'immunity' from registration of any First Information Report (FIR)..Pamphlets describing Justice Mantha as a "disgrace in the name of the judiciary" were seen pasted on walls near the court premises and the judge's residence."Disgrace in the name of judiciary. Pardons all criminal cases against Suvendu Adhikari. Stays all investigations and orders no future FIRs. Resides at an illegal property. Removes rightful protection to the sister-in-law of Abhishek Banerjee despite being harassed by the ED at 12 in the midnight," the posters read..Justice Mantha had on December 8 passed an order staying over 26 FIRs lodged against Adhikari and had directed the State to take the permission of the Court before lodging any FIR against him in the future.Another order by Justice Mantha that the lawyers took objection to was one by which the protection granted to Maneka Gambhir - sister-in-law of TMC General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee - was removed in a money laundering case..Reportedly, the lawyers prevented anyone from entering Court Hall 13, which is presided by Justice Mantha. Due to the ensuing ruckus, the judge could not enter his courtroom and the proceedings of his court were stalled. Notably, the judge was to hear over 306 cases today..Meanwhile, Deputy Solicitor General Billwadal Bhattacharya appeared before Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava to inform him about the protests."I was on my way to the Court and my juniors told me about the sudden ruckus outside Justice Mantha's court hall. I rushed to the Chief Justice's Court and informed him about the protest. I told that there was physical obstruction by aggression," Bhattacharya told Bar & Bench.He added that these incidents have become routine."Every two months, such incidents are happening. Also, there was no resolution by the Bar Association. So I, urged him to order the advocates to remove the blockade and issue suo motu rule of criminal contempt against the lawyers," he said.The Chief Justice then requested Advocate General SN Mookherjee to persuade the striking advocates, as most of them were State empanelled lawyers."The AG too requested but there was no result," Bhattacharya revealed. Soon after this, the Chief Justice held a meeting with two senior judges of the High Court and a request was made to end the blockade outside the court hall..Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.