The indefinite strike of advocates across the State ended on Friday. After the order of the Jharkhand State Bar Council, all the advocates will start judicial work from Monday, January 16. Council President Rajendra Krishna and spokesperson Sanjay Vidrohi informed that the strike has ended. For the last one week more than 35,000 advocates of Jharkhand were on work boycott regarding their demands. On the instructions of the council, the advocates across the state were not doing any work in the court in protest against the increase in the court fee by the government.
Due to the strike, judicial work in the courts had come to a complete standstill since January 6. At the same time, due to this, the common man was facing a lot of problems. The Bar Council decided in Thursday's meeting that all the advocates would end the boycott of judicial work and be present in the court proceedings as before.
The major demands of the advocates was withdrawal of the increase in court fees by the State government, increase in basic facilities to advocates, restoration of APP, provision of funds for advocate welfare in the budget, demand for Advocate Protection Act and announcements made by the Chief Minister on January 07 for welfare of advocates in the State. There was a demand to bring the announcements made for the project to the ground in seven days.
There was also a rift between the advocates who are affiliated with Jharkhand State Bar Council over issue of strikes as the Council-the highest lawyers’ body in state had issued notice to seven lawyers who appeared in the court proceedings defying the council’s decision. However, by Thursday evening the Jharkhand High Court stayed the letter issued by the Jharkhand State Bar Council.
The seven lawyers all of Jharkhand High Court against whom notices were issued by High Court includes Anil Kumar Sinha senior advocate Jharkhand High Court, Nilesh Kumar advocate Jharkhand High Court, Ashutosh Anand AAG II, Manoj Kumar Mishra, NK Ganjhu and Jitendra Kumar Pandey.
The Jharkhand State Bar Council in its notice had mentioned that it has come to knowledge of Jharkhand State Bar Council that some members have violated the directives of Jharkhand State Bar Council and have appeared in the Court. The Bar Council is contemplating disciplinary proceedings against them subject to confirmation for their appearance at your end. The letter was addressed to the Secretary, Advocates Association, Jharkhand High Court.
On the letter issued by Council former advocate general of the state Anil Kumar Sinha had moved a contempt petition in the bench of Justice Ananda Sen. The court admitted the petition with the direction to list it before the court of acting chief justice for hearing.