The Allahabad High Court has been at the center of several controversies and criticisms in recent times. One of the significant issues involves the Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh's demand for the transfer of Justice Sangeeta Chandra from the Allahabad High Court.
Bar Council's Resolution Against Justice Sangeeta Chandra
The Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh passed a unanimous resolution seeking the transfer of Justice Sangeeta Chandra to any other High Court. This decision was made following allegations of her mistreatment of lawyers in the courtroom, particularly after she proposed contempt of court proceedings against Senior Advocate SC Mishra. The Oudh Bar Association had also raised complaints against Justice Chandra's alleged inhumane conduct towards advocates.
The resolution by the Bar Council requested that Justice Chandra should not be assigned any judicial work until her transfer is finalized. The council's move was in support of the Oudh Bar Association's demands and highlighted the recent altercation between Justice Chandra and Senior Advocate SC Mishra during a hearing.
Frequent Strikes by Lawyers Criticized
In another development, the Allahabad High Court expressed strong disapproval of the frequent strikes called by lawyers in Uttar Pradesh. The court observed that these strikes give a bad name to the legal profession and directed district judges not to circulate any resolutions for strike calls passed by the Bar Associations. This move was aimed at preventing the disruption of court proceedings and ensuring that litigants are not left in limbo.
The court noted that the judiciary is already facing a huge backlog of cases and any further delays caused by strikes or condolence meetings are uncalled for. It emphasized the need for lawyers to introspect their actions and restore the faith of common citizens in the legal profession.
Advocates Defy Boycott Call
Despite the boycott call against Justice Sangeeta Chandra, many advocates continued to take up cases at the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court. This defiance indicates a split within the legal community regarding the boycott and highlights the ongoing tensions between some lawyers and the judiciary.
The ongoing controversies and criticisms surrounding the Allahabad High Court underscore the need for improved relations between the judiciary and the legal fraternity to ensure the smooth functioning of the justice system.
