Judicial work paralysed in Delhi as lawyers strike work

Judicial work at all six district courts in Delhi was paralysed on Friday as nearly 20,000 lawyers went on a one-day strike to protest against alleged misconduct by certain subordinate court judges.

Litigants in hundreds of cases faced inconvenience due to non-appearance of lawyers at various district courts at Patiala House, Rohini, Saket, Tis Hazari, Dwarka and Karkardooma.

It was only after an assurance by Delhi High Court Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal of action against erring court presiding officers that the strike was called off, said Jaiveer Singh Chauhan, Secretary General of the co-ordination committee of all district courts bar associations.

The Acting Chief Justice also assured that subordinate judiciary's officers will be taught how to deal with lawyers during their training, Chauhan said.

The lawyers committee had on Thursday decided to observe the strike.

"There is urgent need for a transparent mechanism to check misbehaviour by judges and appropriate action against them," said Chauhan.

The committee said the presiding officers of trial/sessions courts should act in a judicious manner and not treat lawyers as their subordinates, adding that authorities were not taking steps to stop such misbehaviour.

On Wednesday, lawyers at the Tis Hazari courts observed a strike against the alleged rude behaviour of a magistrate.

--IANS

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