JK HC strongly disapproves ongoing lawyers' strike in UT, issues to stir leaders

Strongly disapproving the ongoing lawyers' strike and their acts of blocking access to various courts in Jammu region, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Wednesday issued notices to several advocates spearheading the stir, seeking their stands on why the contempt of court proceeding be not launched against them.

Work in the high court and its subordinate courts has been affected in most parts of the Jammu region with JKHCBA observing an indefinite strike since November 1 against the government's decision to divest courts of its powers to register various documents and vest the same with the Revenue Department.

A bench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Rajesh Bindal issued notices to lawyers, taking suo motu congnisance of the strike, and sought advocates' replies within two weeks.

The bench fixed January 20 as the next date of hearing.

Upset with lawyers continuing strike for nearly a month and half and not only blocking access of common people to courts but even locking judicial officers and others inside the trial court premises, the bench said, "We have no doubt that such conduct is in blatant violation of the mandate of law... and cannot be condoned."