Nagpur: There seems to be a split in the legal fraternity over reopening of non-essential shops, particularly those of liquor, in the city. After five lawyers filed a case for reopening of those establishments, two lawyers filed an intervention demanding its dismissal.
Interveners — former District Bar Association (DBA) president Sudeep Jaiswal and Satish Uke — raised objections on the petition on its maintainability and also questioned the locus of petitioners.
A single-judge bench of justice Rohit Deo directed the registry to keep the hearing on their application on May 15.
Expressing concern over professional ethics displayed by the petitioners, the interveners contended that such a case seeking relief of opening of liquor shops ought not have been filed by the lawyers.
Tendering apology on behalf of the legal community, the duo stated that respect for their fraternity should be maintained as lawyers are caretakers for the rights of citizens and society.
Pointing out that one of the petitioners — Kishor Lambat — withdrew his name from the petition due to the reason that only liquor establishments were highlighted in the entire petition which was never his intention, the interveners stated that a wrong message may go out of the society that the legal community is only thinking of its own luxury and not worrying about dangers due to coronavirus to the population.
“The efforts of these lawyers could have been salutary had they used their professional expertise to bring before this court the issues like the serious plight and sufferings of migratory citizens walking hundreds of kilometres to reach their native places,” Jaiswal and Uke said.
They argued that if the court intends to allow the petition, at least directives should be issued to the government to frame strict guidelines for the sale of liquor while taking precautions that Covid-19 shouldn’t spread due to it.
Uke suggested that only licence holding consumers would be allowed to take delivery of the liquor as the health and lives of the citizens and the society is of paramount importance.
Interveners — former District Bar Association (DBA) president Sudeep Jaiswal and Satish Uke — raised objections on the petition on its maintainability and also questioned the locus of petitioners.
A single-judge bench of justice Rohit Deo directed the registry to keep the hearing on their application on May 15.
Expressing concern over professional ethics displayed by the petitioners, the interveners contended that such a case seeking relief of opening of liquor shops ought not have been filed by the lawyers.
Tendering apology on behalf of the legal community, the duo stated that respect for their fraternity should be maintained as lawyers are caretakers for the rights of citizens and society.
Pointing out that one of the petitioners — Kishor Lambat — withdrew his name from the petition due to the reason that only liquor establishments were highlighted in the entire petition which was never his intention, the interveners stated that a wrong message may go out of the society that the legal community is only thinking of its own luxury and not worrying about dangers due to coronavirus to the population.
“The efforts of these lawyers could have been salutary had they used their professional expertise to bring before this court the issues like the serious plight and sufferings of migratory citizens walking hundreds of kilometres to reach their native places,” Jaiswal and Uke said.
They argued that if the court intends to allow the petition, at least directives should be issued to the government to frame strict guidelines for the sale of liquor while taking precautions that Covid-19 shouldn’t spread due to it.
Uke suggested that only licence holding consumers would be allowed to take delivery of the liquor as the health and lives of the citizens and the society is of paramount importance.
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