Calcutta HC To Have Summer Vacation Benches; Bar Association Opposes

Taking a cue from the Supreme Court, the Calcutta High Court has decided to hold special sittings during the summer vacation to hear cases that were instituted prior to 2000 in a bid to reduce pendency.

The court’s Bar Association is however opposed to it. It passed a resolution against it on the grounds that of the two-week vacation, the court will hold sittings on nine days.

While supporting moves to reduce pendency of cases, the association has sought filling up of vacancies of judges. “Out members will not attend the special sittings. We want reduction in the number of pending cases, but the lawyers also need some respite during the gruelling summer, Calcutta High Court Bar Association general secretary Suranjan Dasgupta said.

The Calcutta High Court has at present 35 judges, while it has a sanctioned strength of 72 judges, according to the website of the high court.

“it is the solemn desire of the Acting Chief Justice (Justice Nishita Mhatre) to organise special sittings of the benches of this High Court during summer vacation, in order to hear pending cases which were instituted prior to January one, 2000”, High Court's registrar general, Sugata Majumdar, said in an order.

The high court, which will be on vacation from May 22 to June three, will hear such matters on five days during this period. In addition to these special sittings, vacation bench which hears urgent matters will also sit on four days during this period.

These special sittings will be held on May 22, 24, 26, 29 and June two, while the vacation bench will sit on May 23, 25, 30 and June one, according to the cause list published by the high court administration.