RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Jan 6: Judicial work in Jharkhand came to a halt after over 30,000 lawyers abstained from their work to draw the state government’s attention toward their charter of demands.
The demands include poor friendly court fees, formulation and enactment of an act for the protection of advocates, and appointment of APP from practising lawyers among others.
Jharkhand Bar Council had given the call for action. The agitation will continue tomorrow.
Notably, Bar council chairman Rajendra Krishna confirmed the situation.
“Advocates across the state did not work today and thus they responded positively to the call given by Jharkhand Bar Council,” Krishna said.
Jharkhand HC sources informed that a section of lawyers working for the government defied the bar council decision and was noticed working. When asked about the same, advocate Krishna said the information is being verified.
“Information regarding a section of advocates has come that they worked. The information is being verified with the help of order sheets. If after verification if the information is found true, proper action will be taken against those who worked defying bar council order,” he said.
As advocates abstained from judicial work, common people suffered.
“I was to be cross-examined in a criminal case today but as I reached civil court, I was asked to return. This is a waste of my time, money and labour,” Dilbar Ansari, a Chanho resident said.
Advocate general Rajiv Ranjan has already termed the action illegal and had hinted at a rift among advocates over abstaining from court work.
The development took place a day before chief minister Hemant Soren had planned to communicate with a delegation of advocates from different parts of the state at his official residence.
