Frequent strikes gives bad name to legal profession: High Court

Prayagraj: Makingan observation that the culture of frequent strikes gives a bad name to the legal profession, the Allahabad High Court has directed all the district judges of Uttar Pradesh not to circulate any resolution for strike calls passed by the Bar Associations in the respective district judgeships.

A bench comprising Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Gautam Chowdhary passed the order when it was brought to the notice of court that members of the bar association are routinely passing resolutions calling for strikes and thereafter the concerned district judges circulate resolution of strike to all of the judges as a result most of the courts rise leaving the litigants in lurch not knowing as to what is happening.

The court also expressed hope and trust that lawyers in the district courts would follow the resolution of the State Bar Council to hold a condolence meeting at 3.30 pm so that the entire day’s work is not obstructed.

“We are at a loss to understand as to why only in the state of Uttar Pradesh the lawyers have to call a condolence meeting at 10 am and thereby obstruct the court working for the whole day,” the court said.

“The judiciary is already facing a backlog of huge cases for disposal and any further delay caused due to strike or condolence is wholly uncalled for,” it said. K R Chitra, a Supreme court lawyer who appeared to assist the court, stated that occasionally she appeared before the district judgeship at Gautam Buddha Nagar and was often being harassed on account of frequent strike calls made by the lawyers in the court. She further alleged that unfortunately some of the advocates were indulging in activities other than what was expected of them at the cost of their professional duties as a result, the reputation of the legal profession itself was being harmed.