Today, On 13th September, The Supreme Court requested details on the frequency of lawyers’ strikes in Uttar Pradesh, specifically addressing strikes in Faizabad district. However, the Court indicated its intention to expand the scope of the case beyond this district. The move reflects growing concerns over the impact of frequent strikes on judicial functioning.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday requested data on the number of strikes and boycotts organized by district bar associations in Uttar Pradesh this year.
A Bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan directed the Allahabad High Court to gather these details by seeking reports from all district judges in the state.
The Court stressed the need for advocates to recognize the responsibility that comes with being officers of the court.
Justice Kant remarked,
“This is a very serious issue. Our entire judicial system has been paralyzed. People travel from distant villages only to face this,”
The Supreme Court was hearing an appeal filed by the Faizabad bar association against an August 8 ruling by the Allahabad High Court. The ruling had established an Elders Committee to manage the association’s affairs, ensure its operations are conducted smoothly, and oversee the election of its Governing Council by December 2024.
Previously, the Court expressed concern over the frequent strikes organized by the bar association.
During a hearing on September 4, the Supreme Court acknowledged the Allahabad High Court’s findings that, between November 2023 and April 2024, Faizabad lawyers had abstained from work for 66 out of 134 working days.
The top court ordered that every office bearer of the bar association submit an affidavit, committing not to support any future resolution to boycott judicial work. The court also declined to put the High Court’s decision on hold.
In today’s hearing, the Bench expressed its intention to widen the scope of the case, evaluating the performance and functioning of all bar associations across Uttar Pradesh. The Allahabad High Court instructed to collect information from all district judges regarding court boycotts in 2024.
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The case set to be heard again on September 23, where the Bench is expected to issue interim orders.
Representing the Faizabad bar association were Senior Advocates Rakesh Kumar Khanna, Sukumar Pattjoshi, and a team of advocates including Kumar Murlidhar, Atul Verma, and others.
Senior Advocate CU Singh represented the original petitioners before the High Court and opposed the appeal. Senior Advocate and Uttar Pradesh Additional Advocate General K Parameshwar appeared for the Allahabad High Court.