In Jharkhand, a significant legal protest has emerged as local lawyers object to the appointment of ‘outsider’ lawyers to the Jharkhand High Court. The Jharkhand High Court Advocates Association has initiated a boycott of the courts presided over by Chief Justice MS Ramachandra Rao and Justices Sujit Narayan Prasad and Rongon Mukhopadhyay starting March 6. The boycott comes in response to the decisions made by the High Collegium, which includes the aforementioned judges and is responsible for recommending judicial appointments.
The heart of the dispute lies in the Collegium’s recent agreement to appoint at least two Supreme Court lawyers as judges of the Jharkhand High Court. This decision has sparked controversy as it appears to contravene a previous resolution by the Association which opposes the appointment of outsiders. The local legal community argues that appointments should prioritize experienced advocates from within Jharkhand who are familiar with the region’s specific legal and socio-economic contexts.
A letter from the Association dated March 4 highlighted its stance: “Our Association has consistently maintained that the appointment of judges to the Jharkhand High Court should duly consider qualified and experienced regular practitioners/ advocates from within our Bar who possess intimate knowledge of local laws, customs, and socio-economic realities of Jharkhand. This position is not merely a matter of regional preference but stems from our commitment to ensuring effective administration of justice that is sensitive to the unique needs and challenges of our state.”
Further escalating the situation, on March 10, the Association took disciplinary actions by suspending the membership of 15 lawyers who did not participate in the boycott, also issuing them show-cause notices. The resolution stated that the future course of action would be discussed and decided at the next General Body meeting scheduled for March 17.
In addition to local actions, the Association plans to escalate their grievances to the national level. A delegation of five members is set to travel to New Delhi to meet with high-ranking officials including the President of India, the Chief Justice of India, and the Law Minister, provided that the dignitaries are available to meet.
