March 29, 2025 | Prayagraj – In a late-night emergency meeting held at the residence of High Court Bar Association President Anil Tiwari, the executive committee of the association unanimously decided to boycott the oath-taking ceremony of Justice Yashwant Verma, recently transferred from Delhi High Court to Allahabad High Court.
The decision comes amid increasing resentment among lawyers following the official notification of Justice Verma’s transfer issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice on Friday evening.
Bar Association’s Protest Intensifies
Bar President Anil Tiwari confirmed that lawyers will not attend the oath ceremony and that a strategic meeting with senior advocates will be held on Saturday at 4 PM to finalize the next phase of the protest.
Despite this, the photo affidavit center—essential for case proceedings—will reopen from Saturday in the interest of litigants.
Prolonged Strike Disrupts Court Proceedings
The High Court has now seen four consecutive days of major disruption due to the lawyers’ strike. Judges, including the Chief Justice, convened court on Friday morning, but due to lack of representation, proceedings were suspended shortly after.
This has caused major inconvenience to litigants, many of whom have traveled from remote parts of the state seeking justice.
Lawyers Demand Withdrawal of Transfer and Broader Reforms
During a day-long protest near Gate No. 3 of the Allahabad High Court, lawyers reiterated their demands:
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Immediate rollback of the transfer order of Justice Yashwant Verma, citing controversy surrounding his previous judgments.
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Transfer of judges whose close relatives are practicing in the same court.
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Resolution of ongoing case listing issues.
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Strict adherence to first-come-first-hear principle in case scheduling.
All four demands were formally passed through a resolution in the general body meeting.
Continued Mobilization
The emergency meeting, which extended past 12:30 AM, saw participation from key office bearers, including Vice President Agnihotri Kumar Tripathi and General Secretary Vikrant Pandey. Several other senior advocates addressed the gathering, further fueling the call for judicial transparency and reform.
The bar association has made it clear that their protest is not personal, but aimed at preserving the integrity of the judiciary and ensuring fair legal practices.