The high court on Monday called for tighter security following alleged attacks on lawyers in courts and elsewhere in recent days.
A division bench of Chief Justice R.V. Ghuge and Justice Om Narayan Rai said metal detectors could be installed at Calcutta High Court and subordinate courts to screen visitors.
The bench asked the state bar council and various lawyers’ organisations to discuss the proposed security measures and submit their decisions to the Chief Justice.
“The state bar council and all the lawyers’ bodies are asked to take decisions and send them to me. Then the court administration will introduce a system to check the visitors with the help of metal detectors before they enter the court premises,” the Chief Justice said.
The court’s observations came amid several incidents involving alleged attacks on lawyers. At Baruipur court, advocate Sayan Banerjee was allegedly hit with an egg, while lawyers at Bankshall court were also allegedly targeted with eggs. Similar incidents have been reported from Chandernagore court.
An alleged attack at the residence of senior advocate Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya has also raised concerns. One person has been arrested in connection with the incident.
Last Tuesday, the bench directed the state to submit an action-taken report on the incidents. On Monday, the state submitted its report. It claimed adequate security measures were in place.
The court also flagged indiscipline on judicial premises. The Chief Justice said the high court was writing to subordinate courts, asking them to ban smoking and the consumption of gutkha and paan within court premises.