On February 25, 2025, the Allahabad High Court Bar Association (HCBA) and the Oudh Bar Association (Lucknow Bench) collectively abstained from judicial work to protest the significant shortfall in the number of appointed judges at the Allahabad High Court. This concerted action underscores the legal community's deep-seated concerns over the dwindling judicial strength and its adverse impact on the administration of justice.
The HCBA had previously initiated a similar protest on February 21, 2025, highlighting not only the judge shortage but also voicing opposition to the proposed amendments to the Advocates Act, 1961. In a subsequent resolution, the HCBA extended its call for a work abstention to February 24 and 25. However, the protest scheduled for the 24th was later withdrawn, focusing their efforts on the 25th.
In a formal communication addressed to the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court, HCBA's Honorary Secretary, Advocate Vikrant Pandey, emphasized the gravity of the situation. He pointed out that, despite a sanctioned judicial strength of 160 judges, the High Court was functioning with only 79 judges. This substantial deficit has led to an overwhelming backlog of cases, causing prolonged delays and undermining public confidence in the judicial system.
The Oudh Bar Association echoed these concerns, particularly criticizing the inefficiencies in case listings and the prolonged intervals between hearings. Their letter highlighted that cases were being rotated on the cause list after intervals as long as two months, exacerbating delays and hindering timely justice.
This unified stance by both Bar Associations reflects a broader apprehension within the legal fraternity about the deteriorating state of judicial infrastructure. The persistent vacancies not only burden the existing judges but also impede the court's ability to dispense swift and effective justice. By abstaining from work, the associations aim to draw urgent attention to these systemic issues, advocating for immediate remedial measures to bolster the judicial apparatus and uphold the rule of law.
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