Vadodara lawyers extend 2-day strike for indefinite period

The Baroda Bar Association (BBA) on Wednesday declared to continue their two-day strike for an indefinite period after the district court administration allegedly did not respond to their demands.

The advocates had gone on strike on Tuesday over issues of uncleanliness on the court premises and alleged misbehaviour by judges with advocates.

The working committee of BBA held a meeting on Tuesday afternoon and adopted a resolution declaring their strike indefinite.

"The honourable principal district judge has not taken any action or given any assurance to look into our demands during the last two days. So, we have decided to continue our strike for an indefinite period," BBA secretary Jagat Desai said.

BBA president Nalin Patel alleged that Principal District Judge K K Bhatt was unresponsive and non-cooperative. "Before two weeks, we had made representation to the principal judge over the issues. But he had told us that it were non of his concerns," Patel said.

The striking lawyers are demanding that latrines on the court premises, which are stinking, be cleaned regularly and provision of clean, drinkable water be made. There are seven toilets in Nayay Mandir and adjoining Lal Court complexes.

The resolution adopted notes, "The principal district judge says he does not have time to hear civil suites as he has to hear motor vehicle accident claims. However, hearing for a number of such claims have been completed and verdicts are given for six months stating arguments to continue at the hearing."

The resolution enlists 18 such cases where the judgments are pending for long.

The resolution alleges that certain judges were "misbehaving with advocates by passing insulting comments about them during hearing."

"When Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court visited the city two months ago, we had complained about the same issues. At that time the principal district judge had given assurance of looking into our demands. However, he has done nothing since," Patel further said.

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