HC lawyers' strike continues against reported move to set up

Judicial work remained paralysed at the Allahabad High Court for the second consecutive working day today due to an "indefinite" strike called by advocates in protest against the proposed creation of a separate bench of the judicial body in western Uttar Pradesh.
The lawyers, agitating under the banner of High Court Bar Association (HCBA), today held a meeting wherein it was decided that the boycott of judicial work "will tentatively continue till January 5 next though the decision will be reviewed every day and remains subject to changes on account of developments".
"Although, at present our boycott call is for the period ending on January 5, we urge the advocates to be ready for an indefinite strike as we are not going to allow the resumption of judicial work unless and until we get an unequivocal reassurance from the government", the HCBA office-bearers said.

The lawyers had gone on a flash strike on Friday noon following media reports claiming that the Centre was likely to give its assent to a new bench in the near future.
The advocates, led by HCBA president Rakesh Pandey and other office-bearers of the association, held a 3-hour-long meeting today in front of the main gate of the High Court, thereby blocking entry into the premises.
According to HCBA office-bearers, the association has decided to send a delegation to New Delhi "shortly" for holding talks with Chief Justice of India H L Dattu and Union Law Minister Sadananda Gowda "to apprise them of the concerns of the High Court lawyers here and also to demand that the ongoing agitation at a number of western UP districts as illegal".

Earlier, there were speculations that the HCBA might relent on account of a reported clarification from the Union Law Ministry that no proposal for bifurcation of Allahabad High Court was pending for its consideration.

Media reports had quoted a PIB report as having said, "For the creation of a new bench, a proposal needs to be forwarded by the state government after due endorsement from the Chief Justice of the High Court and the Governor.
"Since such a proposal has not been placed before the Law Ministry, the question of taking a decision on the same does not arise".
Meanwhile, judicial work was also hit at the district court here, as the District Bar Association had announced a "day-long token strike" to express solidarity with the agitating High Court advocates".