HC reopens after winter vacation, advocates' stir on

Judicial work remained paralysed in the Allahabad High Court which reopened after the winter break today as advocates continued their strike to protest proposed creation of a separate bench for western Uttar Pradesh.
The advocates, who are on strike since December 12, gathered in front of the court's main gate where High Court Bar Association secretary C P Upadhyay addressed them.
He told the lawyers that an HCBA delegation had met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on January two and was given an assurance that no proposal for creation of a separate bench was under consideration.
The Home Minister had told the delegation that news reports suggesting he was in favour of a separate bench were false, Upadhyay said.

"However, we are worried about a fresh report that has appeared in an English newspaper today. It claims the Chief Justice's opinion has been sought on a bench for western UP," he said.
"It has, therefore, been decided that our strike will continue tomorrow when our delegation will meet the Chief Justice. Further course of action will be decided after that," Upadhyay said.

The advocates are opposed to the creation of a separate bench. Last month, an HCBA delegation has also met Union Law Minister Sadananda Gowda in this connection.
The agitating lawyers had continued their demonstrations on a daily basis when the court had remained closed for the winter vacation from December 24 to January 4.

The lawyers had, during the period, observed a relay fast.