Young Lawyers’ Association Raise Concerns Over Shifting High Court Complex, Vow to Take Grievances to Chief Justice of India

19-06-2023: The members of the J&K High Court BAR Association, JAMMU discussed and deliberated in detail the issue of the proposed shifting of the High Court complex to Raika. The members were of the opinion that shifting of High Court complex from the existing location of Janipur, Jammu would cause serious hardships to thousands of lawyers, as the majority of the members of JKHCBAJ are working both in the High Court and in the District/ subordinate courts as well.

The members protested that shifting of the High Court alone and not shifting other courts would cause serious hardships not only to the Advocates but to the general public and litigants as well especially the old age and female litigants. Therefore, the members of JKHCBAJ strongly opposed the decision of the concerned authorities to shift the High Court to Raika and termed it as gross misuse to the government exchequer as there is ample space for extension of Court premises at the present location in Janipur. It is voiced in the meeting that if a new complex is constructed at the existing location of the High Court, it would be sufficient infrastructure for the establishment of Institutions like Special Tribunals, Armed Forces Tribunals, Consumers Commission, and other statutory Tribunals which would facilitate all the sections of the society including the Advocates and litigants.

Reminding the assurance by Lt. Governor J&K Shri Manoj Sinha who guaranteed not to shift and displace existing Court premises, the Lawyers’ fraternity unanimously decided that if their just and genuine demands are not heard and catered then they will represent their grievances to the Chief Justice of India. The Bar members have decided to protest in Nation’s Capital at Jantar Mantar if their grievance went unheard.

Those who are present in the meeting are Advocate Mohinder Pal Singh Pali, Advocate Umesh Sharma,  Advocate Baldev Singh, Advocate Pawn Kundal, Narinder Sharma, Advocate Varinder Thakur Zaffer Choudhary, Zamir Muslim, Advocate Banu Bandral, Harmeet Mehta and others.