Lawyers strike work over shifting of courts

Legal Correspondent

Ludhiana, February 25

The District Bar Association (DBA), led by its president Ashok Mittal, today observed complete strike against the shifting of five courts dealing exclusively with cheque-bounce cases to the new complex.

The working of courts came to a standstill following the strike and witnessed adjournment of more than 2,000 cases without constructive work. The litigants had to return disappointed. A resolution to go on indefinite strike was passed yesterday in the stormy general house meeting.

President of DBA Ashok Mittal, vice-president Rajinder Pal Singh Babbar and secretary Sham Ahuja claimed that the strike was successful. The members extended full support to the strike. These bar leaders claimed that the entire legal fraternity was not happy with the decision on shifting the courts. The decision needs to be reviewed.

Former Bar presidents Harish Rai Dhanda, Jagmohan Singh Warraich, BK Goel, KR Sikri, Parpukar Singh Ghumman and Naval Kishore Chhibber said it was not feasible for the lawyers to shuttle between two complexes without the connectivity of old judicial complex building with new judicial complex. They stressed the need to resolve the dispute amicably for the betterment of the institution.

The shifting took place during three holidays in courts. Earlier also, a decision was taken to shift the cheque-bounce cases but later on, it was kept pending after lawyers showed strong resentment, claimed the DBA office-bearers.

According to information, the court of Judicial Magistrate Satish Kumar Sharma, JMIC Balkar Singh, JMIC Ramesh Kumar, JMIC Gurdarshan Singh, JMIC Devnoor Singh have been shifted to the new complex. The court dealing with cheque-bounce cases, headed by Judicial Magistrate Vijay Kumar, has not been shifted.

Not taken into confidence, says DBA

The DBA office-bearers said they were not taken into confidence before the shifting of courts. It would have been much better if the court of Additional Sessions Judges were shifted there as already several courts of Additional Sessions Judges were working there.

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