Strongly condemning the alleged attack on judicial officers in Malda district, the Calcutta High Court Bar Association on Tuesday passed a resolution suspending one of its members and calling for stringent action against those involved.
Calcutta High Court
Strongly condemning the alleged attack on judicial officers in Malda district, the Calcutta High Court Bar Association on Tuesday passed a resolution suspending one of its members and calling for stringent action against those involved.
At an urgent general body meeting, the Bar Association expressed “grave concern” over the incident at Kaliachak in the early hours of 1 April, where seven judicial officers, including three women, were allegedly held hostage for nearly nine hours during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
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The resolution noted that advocate Mofakkerul Islam, a member of the Bar Association, has been named as the principal perpetrator behind the incident and the alleged instigation of the mob.
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Condemning his conduct, the Bar Association unanimously resolved to suspend Islam from its membership with immediate effect pending the conclusion of criminal proceedings. It further stated that disciplinary proceedings would be initiated for his expulsion and that a request would be made to the Bar Council of West Bengal for his de-enrolment.
“We, the members of the Bar Association of the High Court at Calcutta, are deeply perturbed by the disturbing visuals and reports widely circulated regarding the cowardly and dastardly attack on the judiciary and its organs,” the resolution stated.
Describing the incident as an “arduous and obnoxious criminal act”, the Bar body said the legal fraternity “cannot remain unflustered” in the face of such attacks and termed it a deliberate attempt to spread “a staid terror message” across the state.
The Association blames the police for inaction during the episode. “We are apprised that the police administration acted as a mere spectator, allowing such barbarism and unchecked hooliganism to continue for nearly nine hours,” the resolution said.
“We shall request the Bar Council of West Bengal to de-enrol this errant advocate for acts which are against the ethos of the legal profession,” the resolution added.
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