The Allahabad High Court issued a stern directive to all district judges in Uttar Pradesh, instructing them not to circulate any strike calls passed by Bar Associations within their jurisdictions. This decision comes in response to concerns raised about the negative impact frequent strikes have on the legal profession’s reputation.
Justices Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Gautam Chowdhary, who comprised the bench, emphasized the disruption caused by such strikes, noting that they leave litigants in a state of uncertainty and hinder the judicial process. The observation was made after it was reported that district judges often circulate resolutions from Bar Associations calling for strikes, which results in many courts adjourning unnecessarily.
The court also expressed its expectation that lawyers would adhere to the State Bar Council’s resolution to hold condolence meetings at 3:30 pm instead of 10 am, a practice that typically disrupts a full day’s court proceedings. The judges remarked on the unique frequency of these early meetings in Uttar Pradesh, questioning the necessity of disrupting court work for the entire day.
Highlighting the judiciary’s struggle with a backlog of cases, the court pointed out that delays caused by strikes or extended condolence meetings are entirely unjustified. Supreme Court lawyer K R Chitra, assisting the court, shared her experiences of frequent strike calls at the district judgeship in Gautam Buddha Nagar, describing them as harassment and detrimental to the profession’s integrity.
The court called for a moment of self-reflection among lawyers, urging them to reconsider the strike practice to restore public faith in the legal system and uphold the nobility of their profession. It acknowledged that while most lawyers oppose strikes, a small number continue to call for them impulsively, showing disregard for legal precedents set by the Supreme Court.
