The three principal lawyers' associations—the Calcutta High Court Bar Association, the Bar Library Club, and the Incorporated Law Society—jointly decided to boycott Justice Sharma's swearing-in ceremony. In a letter addressed to Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam, they expressed their intent to abstain from proceedings in Justice Sharma's court if he is assigned cases.
These associations had previously written to Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, urging a reconsideration of the transfer. They contended that the Calcutta High Court should not become a "dumping ground" for judges with "questionable image or short stints." Their letter included anonymous emails from October and November 2024, alleging improprieties by Justice Sharma, specifically that he retained certain civil disputes as "part heard" despite roster changes.
The protest led to minimal court activity on Tuesday, as many judges opted not to hear cases without the presence of both parties. The lawyers' associations also appealed to the Additional Solicitor General and the Advocate General, requesting their cooperation in boycotting the swearing-in ceremony.