Advocates to go on agitational mode if courts not opened-Bar associations
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in
In a meeting held today, in which Bar association representatives –Presidents/ secretaries of the States of Punjab, Haryana and UT Chandigarh , including the High Court Bar Association was held at Chandigarh, in which Advocate General Punjab, Atul Nanda, Sr Advocate, 19 members of Bar Council, President and secretary of High Court Bar association, office bearer of senior advocates association and 110 presidents/ secretaries of the district and sub division bar associations of Punjab, Haryana and UT Chandigarh participated.
All representatives of Bar Associations of Punjab, Haryana & Chandigarh were of unanimous view that physical hearing of the Courts should be started immediately.
The Advocate General expressed his views that the courts should be opened for physical hearing in a phased manner and by March 100% functioning of courts should start. Apart from that, About 60 speakers expressed their views and have given suggestion regarding opening of courts and starting of physical hearing.
Stating that there is large scale resentment amongst the lawyers’ fraternity as the courts are not working physically, the Bar Council Of Punjab &Haryana released a press note today warning that if no decision is taken to start the physical hearing by 11th January 2021 “then the action committee should resort to agitational mode.
Almost all he speakers advocated for adoption of mode of resorting to go on strike forthwith as they have already waited for almost 9 months. About 60 speakers expressed their views and have given suggestion regarding opening of courts and starting of physical hearing.
Further, the meeting unanimously resolved, that an Action Committee of 15 members be constituted consisting of 4 Presidents of Bar Associations from Punjab, 4 Presidents of Bar Associations of Haryana, President High Court Bar association and President DBA, Chanigarh and 5 member from amongst Bar council members. This committee will coordinate with all Bars and take necessary decisions to achieve 100% physical working of courts .
The committee would meet the Hon’ble Chief Justice of Punjab & Haryana High Court immediately for making representation and conveying the sentiments of the legal fraternity. The Chief Justice be requested to give specific directions to all the Districts & Sessions Judge in the state of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh to list all the cases in all courts with specific direction giving priority for listing of old cases concerning senior citizens, destitute ladies, matrimonial cases etc. so that courts should start working with limited cause list. The direction be also given that interim application can be decided via, V.C, however , other cases should be heard by open court by listing cases ripe for arguments, urgent nature of proceddings, evidence cases and while doing so specific time slot be indicated in the list itself for taking up the cases for hearing.
The lawyers also extend full cooperation to make the courts function physical.
It was further resolved that all courts including High Court should start working physically forth with and initially half of the courts should start working on alternate days each by assigning odd and even days of working of each court and after three weeks as the situation develops then start working of all the courts.
It was further resolved that if no decision is taken to start the physical hearing by 11.01.2021 then the action committee should resort to agitational mode. The manner of agitation would be decided by the action Committee and the lawyers in the States of Punjab, Haryana &Chandigarh would follow the decision so taken.
January 3,2021
