New Delhi: Justice Rajasekhar Mantha of the Calcutta high court was unable to hold court on Monday (January 9) after a number of lawyers associated with the Trinamool Congress gathered to protest outside his courtroom.
Lawyers from TMC’s Legal Cell alleged that Justice Mantha had “protected” Bharatiya Janata Party leader Suvendu Adhikari by passing an order that granted him “immunity” from any FIRs being registered against him, Bar and Bench reported.
Posters against Justice Mantha were also found near his residence and the court premises, reading,
“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.”
On December 8, 2022, Justice Mantha had passed an order staying over 26 FIRs registered against Adhikari. He also said that the police must take permission from the court before registering any further FIRs against the BJP leader.
Deputy Solicitor General Billwadal Bhattacharya went to 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 and Bench.
“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 continued.