Advocates announce ‘No Work Day’ on Friday; to boycott upcoming National Lok Adalat in Punjab
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ April 24,2026
A meeting of the Joint Action Committee was convened through VC mode on April 23,2026 at 07:30 PM to deliberate upon the issues concerning the recent steps taken by the Judicial Management System, particularly:
Appointment of Sarpanch as mediators; and
Establishment of Help Desks outside Family Courts, Special Courts for Crimes Against Women, and Juvenile Courts.
The Committee discussed in detail the proposal regarding the appointment of Sarpanches as mediators.
It was unanimously observed that such an appointment is illogical and contrary to the established judicial system. Mediation requires legal knowledge, skill, and experience, and entrusting such responsibilities to persons without legal background would not serve the intended purpose of effective dispute resolution.
It was further noted that every year a large number of law graduates enroll in the legal profession and there are very new lawyer enrolled yet those have no work as newcomer, and if additional mediators are required, the same should be appointed from among those advocates along with one experience advocate to asist them apart from that there are each bar number of Advocates interested to give this service so if there is no shortage of interested advocates in Bar so why there is need of inexperience and member like Sarpanch having no knowledge of law.
The Committee strongly condemned this step, stating that such policies have been introduced without consultation with the Bar Associations and without taking them into confidence, rendering the decision arbitrary and unacceptable.
With regard to the proposal of setting up Help Desks outside Family Courts, Juvenile Courts, and Special Courts dealing with crimes against women, the Committee expressed serious concern. It was opined that instead of serving as an effective mechanism for legal aid, such Help Desks are likely to be misused. It was also pointed out that sufficient awareness is already being created through banners and flex boards displayed in court premises, and therefore, there is no necessity for establishing such Help Desks.
In view of the above, all Bar Associations across Punjab expressed strong resentment and unanimously resolved to oppose the aforesaid measures.
It was further resolved:
To observe a Punjab-wide strike as a “No Work Day” on 24.04.2026 (Friday); and
To boycott the National Lok Adalat scheduled for 09.05.2026.
