Separate bench issue: Lawyers meet CJ, strike to continue

Advocates of the Allahabad High Court are likely to continue their ongoing strike which entered its 26th day today even as a delegation of striking lawyers met the Chief Justice and were told that no proposal has been received from the state government, so far, in this regard.
According to a release issued by the High Court Bar Association (HCBA), a 45-member delegation headed by its president Rakesh Pande met Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud in presence of a number of other senior judges.
"The CJ said that he was in receipt of a letter from the then Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad dated August 25, 2014. The letter had referred to another letter of May, 2013, wherein the then minister Kapil Sibal had sought comments of the then Chief Justice on the issue of a separate bench for western UP," the release said.

The lawyers' delegation had sought an appointment from the Chief Justice following a report which had appeared in an English daily, yesterday, about the letter of Prasad to Justice Deshmukh.
"The Chief Justice said that for practical reasons he did not deem it proper to make any comments on his own and set up a committee headed by Justice Vineet Saran which has been asked to look into the issue and submit its report," the release said.
The delegation was also informed by Justice Saran, who was present on the occasion, that so far the committee has neither met nor prepared any report. Justice Saran also assured that no report would be tabled before the CJ without taking the Bar into confidence, the release claimed.

"Besides, the Chief Justice added that no proposal has been received from the state government recommending creation of a separate bench so far and hence the question of giving a consent for the same did not arise," the release claimed.
"A general body meeting was thereafter held but a consensus could not be reached as to whether the strike be called off. Hence, it was decided that the strike will continue tomorrow when HCBA members have been asked to give their suggestions in writing. Based on their suggestions, further course of action will be decided," the release added.