Judiciary, P’kula Bar reconcile, but standoff likely to continue

Sanjay Bumbroo

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, March 19 

Even though the judiciary and the Panchkula Bar Association (PBA) have reached a compromise after six days of impasse, the standoff apparently is not going to be resolved soon. 

Sources said the District and Sessions Judge has directed the district administration to remove kiosks of advocates near the Courts Complex, citing security concerns. 

The issue of encroachment on a passage adjoining the round leading to the entry point of the Courts Complex had cropped up during a meeting chaired by the Judge yesterday. The encroachment was considered to be a serious risk to the safety and security of the judicial complex. 

Now, the City Magistrate has written to the HSVP to take immediate action against the encroachment and submit a status report.

The judiciary and the PBA members had been at loggerheads for the past six days as a Judge had allegedly asked a lawyer to leave the court. 

Today, Dr Anmol Rattan Sidhu, president, Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association, mediated a meeting with the two sides to reach an amicable solution.

However, the encroachment issue is likely to prove bitter for the judiciary and the PBA as over 20 lawyers operate from the temporary sheds built on the footpath.

Despite repeated attempts, City Magistrate Gagandeep Singh could not be contacted for his views on the matter. 

PBA president Umesh K Mahour said he was unaware of the matter, adding that he was busy resolving the standoff for the smooth functioning of the court so that the litigants do not have to suffer.

Ashutosh Rajan, Estate Officer, HSVP, said they would follow the due course and submit the desired report to the City Magistrate after videographing the entire area.