HC lawyers abstain from work

Prayagraj: Working in the Allahabad high court came to standstill as in pursuance of the call given by the high court bar association (HCBA) lawyers abstained from judicial work on Friday in protest against the decreasing strength of judges in the Allahabad HC and also against the proposed amendments in Advocates' Act.
As per HCBA's resolution, the lawyers assembled on the main gate (gate number three) of the high court in the morning and thereafter none of the lawyers entered the courtroom. As a result, the resolution for boycott of work yielded the desired result.
HCBA president Anil Tiwari said that the sanctioned strength of the judges of Allahabad HC is 160. However, at present, the high court at Allahabad is working on its less than half of the sanctioned strength, as there are only 55 judges working in the high court at Allahabad and 23 judges working at its Lucknow bench. On this occasion, HCBA secretary Vikrant Tiwari expressed deep anguish that the principal seat of high court had never achieved its sanctioned strength of judges. According to HCBA, this situation is affecting the ‘independence of judiciary' and is also adversely affecting the ‘public faith on judicial process'.
As per HCBA, due to insufficient number of judges, the pendency of cases is increasing, as cases are not being taken up for several months in the high court.
The HCBA has demanded not only filling up of sanctioned strength of judges but also increase in the sanctioned strength of judges at Allahabad high court to meet the increasing number of cases.
Joint secretary, press, Puneet Kumar Shukla said that the lawyers are also against the Advocates' Amendment Bill, 2025 proposed by the govt of India, as according to HCBA, its provisions are against the interest of advocates and autonomy of the bar association.