Allahabad High Court has declared the ongoing lawyers’ strike in Gonda as illegal. The court’s Judicial and Inquiry Registrar has issued show-cause notices to 25 office bearers of the Gonda Bar Association. Lawyers have been protesting for the past week against the Advocate Amendment Bill.
During the protest, lawyers blocked the Gonda-Lucknow Highway multiple times, causing disruptions for about an hour each time. The High Court, citing a Supreme Court order, has taken action against the strike. Those who have received the notice include Bar Association President Ram Bujharath Dwivedi, General Secretary Sanjay Kumar Singh, and other senior officials. All of them have been directed to respond within 15 days, failing which further action may be taken.
Reacting to the notice, Bar Association President Ram Bujharath Dwivedi stated that they would submit an appropriate response on time. He emphasized that in a democracy, everyone has the right to express their concerns. According to him, the Advocate Amendment Bill threatens the independence of lawyers. He further added that it is not just Gonda, but lawyers across Uttar Pradesh and the country are opposing the bill, demanding that the central government immediately withdraw it.
