Kolkata Court Hearings Adjourned as Judges Shift to SIR Case Adjudication
On Monday at 12:30 PM, the District Civil and Sessions Court in Alipore, Kolkata, presented an unusual scene. Instead of the typical bustle of legal proceedings, lawyers gathered in clusters outside Additional District Judges' (ADJ) courts, checking their phone calendars and informing anxious clients about rescheduled hearing dates. This disruption stemmed from an administrative decision with significant implications for the judicial calendar across West Bengal.
Widespread Judicial Reassignment Impacts Hundreds of Cases
All 16 ADJs and the district judge at Alipore were temporarily released from their regular duties to focus on adjudicating SIR (Special Investigation Report) hearings. Statewide, nearly 200 judicial officers commenced SIR adjudication work on Monday, leading to adjournments in hundreds of pending cases. Advocate Shaktipada Maity, who had five matters listed, reported that three could not be heard due to the judge's absence. He explained, "The ADJ was present briefly in the morning but departed. We were informed that no fresh hearings would occur in his court for the next two weeks. While important cases may be handled by fast track courts, all other civil and criminal matters are postponed until after March 9." Two of Maity's rent control cases were transferred to a special court.
Criminal Cases Also Face Delays and Uncertainty
The impact extended beyond civil disputes into serious criminal proceedings. Senior lawyer Md Sahabuddin highlighted that three of his cases involving charges of murder, sexual assault, and wrongful restraint were not heard, with new dates set for later in the year. This underscores the cascading effects of the temporary judicial reshuffle. According to Anirban Guha Thakurta, a senior criminal lawyer in Alipore, only urgent matters are currently being addressed. He noted, "Bail applications, custody trial issues, and other pressing concerns are being managed by the third fast track judge, Souvik Dey, who is overseeing the district and sessions judge's responsibilities in Alipore for the next two weeks."
Litigants Express Frustration Over Postponed Hearings
For many litigants who traveled long distances hoping for resolution, the uncertainty was palpable. Kartik Samanta, a resident of Baruipur involved in a property dispute with his cousins for over two years, shared his disappointment: "I anticipated that this issue would finally be settled this month. With today's hearing cancelled, I am unsure when the case will be heard again." Similarly, Dibakar Gayen from Mathurapur arrived with family for a criminal case where he is accused of illegally hooking electricity to power a motorised pump and two lights near his farmland. Maintaining his innocence, Gayen stated, "I am the landowner, and the alleged wrongdoing was committed by others cultivating the land. Now the hearing has been delayed for two months."
Statewide Disruption Mirrors Alipore Scenario
The situation in Alipore reflected broader disruptions across district courts in West Bengal. Officials reported that two ADJs each in Baruipur and Sealdah were reassigned for SIR work, while Barasat had three ADJs and Barrackpore had eight judicial officers deputed for the same purpose. This reshuffle follows a decision by the High Court administration on Saturday to cancel the leave of all senior district judges until March 9, facilitating the scrutiny of documents related to 45 lakh disputed SIR cases. The move aims to expedite backlog clearance but has temporarily stalled routine judicial functions, affecting countless individuals awaiting justice.
