The Calcutta High Court has said that contempt proceedings be initiated against a lawyer who cursed a judge and wished him to “be infected with coronavirus” following an unfavorable judgment.
Justice Dipankar Datta recommended such proceeded after lawyer Bijoy Adhikari was angered by an unfavorable judgement. The HC has been hearing only urgent cases owing to the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus. The lawyer had moved the Court seeking an urgent stay on the auction of his client’s bus that was seized by a nationalised bank due to failure in repaying the loan on time. Justice Dipankar Datta observed that the bus was seized on January 15 and thus refused to grant an urgent hearing.
An infuriated Adhikari then thumped the table and banged the microphone on it. When Justice Dipankar asked him to behave properly, the lawyer said that the future of the judge would be doomed by him and that he would be infected by the novel coronavirus. Undeterred by his actions, Adhikari was relentlessly “shouting at the top of his voice”.
Justice Dipankar then said that the majesty of the court was paramount and ordered that a contempt notice be issued against Adhikari. He also reminded the lawyer that his behavior was “abominable” and unbecoming a member of the noble profession of lawyers band and undermined the dignity and prestige of the court. The judge then ordered that the matter be heard by an appropriate division bench when the court re-opens after the summer vacation.