NEW DELHI: Noting that lawyers in Faizabad district abstained from work for 66 out of 134 working days between Nov-April, Supreme Court on Monday took an extraordinary step asked the lawyers of Faizabad Bar Association to first give an undertaking that they will not go on strike as a precondition to grant a hearing on their plea on holding election.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan said that it will hesitate in taking tough decisions against them as they were making mockery of the judicial system by blocking work.The court said that the issue is very serious which is prevalent in almost all lower courts in the country and the situation is very alarming.
It asked the Bar association to take undertaking from all its lawyer and submit it before the district judge and Allahabad high court which could proceed against them in case of violation of undertaking. The court said that it would further hear their case only after being satisfied with their conduct.
Referring to Allahabad HC order, the bench said in the month of November, 2023, out of 21 working days, lawyers abstained from work on 12 days, in December, 2023, out of 20 working days, lawyers abstained from work on 08 days, in January, 2024, out of 24 working days, lawyers abstained from work on 13 days, in February, 2024, out of 24 working days, lawyers abstained from work on 11 days, in March, 2024, out of 22 working days, lawyers abstained from work on 10 days, in April, 2024, out of 23 working days, lawyers abstained from work on 12 days.
In order to prevent lawyers from resorting to strike, the apex court had earlier directed that a mechanism be put in place to address the grievances of lawyers so that they do not hamper the court proceedings in violation of its order and asked all high courts to set up grievances redressal panel.
It had said that the high court may also consider to constitute the similar grievance redressal committee at the district court level.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan said that it will hesitate in taking tough decisions against them as they were making mockery of the judicial system by blocking work.The court said that the issue is very serious which is prevalent in almost all lower courts in the country and the situation is very alarming.
It asked the Bar association to take undertaking from all its lawyer and submit it before the district judge and Allahabad high court which could proceed against them in case of violation of undertaking. The court said that it would further hear their case only after being satisfied with their conduct.
Referring to Allahabad HC order, the bench said in the month of November, 2023, out of 21 working days, lawyers abstained from work on 12 days, in December, 2023, out of 20 working days, lawyers abstained from work on 08 days, in January, 2024, out of 24 working days, lawyers abstained from work on 13 days, in February, 2024, out of 24 working days, lawyers abstained from work on 11 days, in March, 2024, out of 22 working days, lawyers abstained from work on 10 days, in April, 2024, out of 23 working days, lawyers abstained from work on 12 days.
In order to prevent lawyers from resorting to strike, the apex court had earlier directed that a mechanism be put in place to address the grievances of lawyers so that they do not hamper the court proceedings in violation of its order and asked all high courts to set up grievances redressal panel.
It had said that the high court may also consider to constitute the similar grievance redressal committee at the district court level.