Shifting of Juvenile Justice Board, judge’s behaviour irk lawyers

Our Legal Correspondent

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Ludhiana, September 29

Shifting of Juvenile Justice Board in Shimlapuri area from the district courts complex and the alleged misbehavior by a Judicial Magistrate irked lawyers and they decided to go on strike for two days.

The decision regarding strike on September 29 and 30 was taken in the stormy general house meeting convened today on the requisition of lawyers.

In the meeting, lawyers took a decision to strongly oppose the shifting of Juvenile Justice Board and demanded immediate shifting of the court near the district courts complex.

They said the shifting would result in unnecessary harassment to juvenile litigants as their lawyers would not be available there easily. Moreover, lawyers would face a lot of difficulty in shuttling from Shimlapuri to district courts complex. Ultimately that too would hamper the functioning of the judicial system.

Strong resentment was seen among the legal fraternity against the alleged mis-behaviour by a Judicial Magistrate with lawyers, clerks and litigants.

DBA office-bearers claimed that they had received several complaints against the particular officer. The matter was brought to the knowledge of the senior judicial officers, but in vain.

Later on the Sessions Judge sent three Additional Sessions Judge AP Batra, JPS Khurmi and SS Dhaliwal to meet lawyers in the Bar room. But lawyers were adamant and wanted the transfer or withdrawl of work from the judicial officer. ADJ Batra and Khurmi, who were practicing lawyers before joining the judiciary, very tactfully tried to diffuse the tense situation and assured to resolve the issues.