Anadi Tewari
The Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association has passed a resolution (dated: May 07, 2021) demanding the transfer of Chief Justice Ravi Shankar to some other High Court.
The Association has also revived a similar resolution passed on 01st February 2021 that also demanded the transfer of the Chief Justice.
The Association claims that the situation circumscribing the listing of matters in the Punjab and Haryana High Court is problematic since matters of urgent nature especially Habeas Corpus Petitions, Anticipatory Bail, Regular Bails, Suspension of Sentence, Stay Matters and other matters involving a violation of fundamental rights are not listed.
“The Hon’ble High Court is the custodian of Constitution and protector of fundamental rights, it cannot shut its doors for the justice seekers. More than 300 written complaints and numerous oral complaints have been received in the Office of the Executive Committee regarding the wrongful rejection of mentioning and use of pick and choose a policy in allowing limited cases. Apart from delaying the justice, justice is being also denied through this arbitrary mentioning process and pick and choose a policy,” the Association questions the frequent non-listing of urgent matters.
Due to such mishandling, the Bench strength has been reduced from 46 to 11 which means the court has reduced its working even on virtual mode resulting in a further backlog of cases as Punjab and Haryana High Court is already having second highest pendency throughout the country.
“Despite various requests and offer of viable solutions, the Hon’ble Chief Justice has remained adamant and has not cooperated with the Bar and have done little for the growth of the Institution and has taken least interest into the problems faced in the Legal Fraternity and the general public of both the States and Union Territory of Chandigarh,” the resolution passed by the association states.
The resolution also states that till the Chief Justice is transferred, his court would be boycotted by all the Hon’ble Members of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association. For those who violate this call, disciplinary action will be taken against that advocate.
“It has been further decided that any Hon’ble member who would violate the call shall be liable for disciplinary action which can lead to dismembership from the Bar Association and would also attract penalty to be deposited in the High Court Lawyers Welfare Fund. If any non-member appears in the Court of Hon’ble The Chief Justice through Video Conference from 10.05.2021, the Bar Association would request the Bar Council concerned to take disciplinary action against that advocate,” the resolution stated.