Advocates to boycott courts today

Rajamahendravaram--Vijayawada: The advocates across the state took a decision to boycott courts on August 24 with a demand to reconsider the circular issued recently by the High Court not considering the problems of judicial officers, advocates and petitioners.

At present there are only 17 judicial officers working for every 10 lakh people as against National Law Commission recommendation of
50 judicial officers

Speaking to The Hans India, AP Advocates JAC member and Rajamahendravaram Bar Association president Muppalla Subba Rao said at present there are only 17 judicial officers working for every 10 lakh people as against National Law Commission recommendation of 50 judicial officers for 10 lakh people in the country. There are 5,000 judicial officer posts are lying vacant in lower courts and as many as 470 posts of judges vacant in High Courts across the country and 19 per cent of judge posts are also vacant in apex court, he told.

Due to inadequate number of judicial officers’ posts as many as 2.53 crore cases are pending in lower courts, 40.54 lakh cases in High Courts and 60,000 cases in apex court. In addition to this, 72 judicial officers’ posts are vacant in fast track courts for the past five years in the State.

Setting aside the lapses, a circular was released in the name of speedy justice, posing problems to judicial officers, advocates and petitioners. This circular mount pressure on the judicial officers of lower courts. He demanded withdrawal of the circular, fill the vacant posts of judicial officers in all courts and initiate action on disposal of lakhs of pending cases.

In Vijayawada, advocates boycotted duties as part of two-day protest against High Court circular ordering judges to dispose pre 2012 cases on day-to-day basis and update details of cases online.

Addressing media, Bezwada Bar Association (BBA) president Somu Krishna Murthy said the judges had been receiving HC circulars for 20 days with a warning to face disciplinary action for failure to stick to circulars. He said such dictates to judges would build pressure on judges, advocates and clients. Ultimately, the system would lead to people losing confidence in judiciary, he added.

The BBA president said unable to cope with the work pressure, three senior advocates in Machilipatnam, Gudivada and Kakinada died. Stating that they were not against circular to speed up case clearance, Krishna Murthy said a decision in this regard and guidelines should be taken after taking advocates into confidence.

With respect to cases of property disputes, he said the clients must get documents and witnesses which would take some time. However, because of circular, the judges had been forced to deliver judgements in a hurry.

Such judgements would be against spirit of justice, he reiterated. The AP Districts Bar Federation, Krishna District Bar Association and the BBA have been supporting the cause and would also boycott courts on Thursday also, he added. BBA general secretary K Srinivasa Rao and AP Bar Council member S Rajendra Prasad were present.