Bar Assn members force ‘symbolic shutdown’ of HC

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 30

Continuing with its decision to abstain from work as part of its indefinite strike call to protest against the setting up of the Haryana Administrative Tribunal, the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association (HCBA) today succeeded in “symbolic shutdown of the High Court” by denying access to lawyers, litigants and government officials.

Bar Association honorary secretary Rohit Sud said members sat on a dharna in front of various gates of the High Court complex in continuation of the protest and to show unity among the legal fraternity. He added that the High Court staff was, however, allowed to enter and perform their duties.

Sud said the action of “symbolic shutdown” was necessary as essential powers enshrined under Article 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India were being jeopardized by “tribunalisation”.

Bar president DPS Randhawa, along with other office-bearers, also met Chief Justice Krishna Murari and apprised him of the facts and developments.

The decision to suspend work was taken by the HCBA and conveyed to the Chief Justice following the notification to set up the Haryana Administrative Tribunal. Soon after the issuance of notification, the Benches hearing Haryana service matters stopped taking up the petitions.

The HCBA asserted that the executive committee had decided that the work would remain suspended indefinitely in the wake of the notification constituting the tribunal as it was a direct attack on the constitutional provisions envisaged in the Constitution of India.

It was further asserted that the “tribunalisation was bad for the country as the presiding officers of the administrative tribunal would not be able to fully justify the service matters and would be inclined towards the government. The ultimate sufferer would be the litigant as the tribunal will be headed by retired judges and bureaucrats.