Tussle between HC and bar association in WB over Holi holiday

Kolkata , Mar 3: A tussle today broke out between the chief justice of Calcutta High court and the bar association of the court for holding of court proceedings on March six, a day declared as holiday by West Bengal government on the occasion of Holi.

"We met the chief justice and requested for a holiday on March six as the state government has declared a holiday on the same day and as several staff will not be available as they are state government employees" the High Court Bar Association secretary Rana Mukherjee said.

Mukherjee said "the chief justice however asked us to attend the court on March 18 or on any any one of the days during either the summer holidays or Puja holidays ".

"We did not accept this proposal and decided not to attend court on March six", Mukherjee said. In West Bengal, Holi is celebrated as Dol Yatra and would be celebrated on March five which is a holiday "declared by both the Calcutta High court court and West Bengal Bengal government", he said.

The tussle has erupted over the state government's decision to declare a holiday on March six also, which is a normal working day for the High court. At least 2.5 lakh cases are pending before the Calcutta HC, many of which are pending for several years.

PTI