Advocates' Association Bengaluru alleges administrative collapse in courts, protests against Chief Justice

The Advocates' Association Bengaluru (AAB) on Wednesday staged a protest outside the Golden Jubilee Gate of the Karnataka High Court, alleging that the administrative machinery of courts in Bengaluru, including the High Court, has "completely collapsed" due to High Court Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru's administrative indifference.

Members of AAB held a sit-in demonstration accusing the Chief Justice of failing to address long-pending issues relating to court administration and basic infrastructure in courts across Bengaluru.

Several former office-bearers of the association, including former presidents DL Jagadish, MT Nanaiah, AN Gangadharaiah and S Basavaraj, participated in the protest along with Bar Council of Karnataka members S Harish, Gautam Chand and Rajanna, former treasurer HMT Ravi, HR Anitha, U Sandhya Prabhu and other advocates.

Addressing the gathering, the lawyers alleged that repeated representations highlighting their grievances had failed to elicit any response from the Chief Justice.

"The pain of lawyers has been brought to the attention of the Chief Justice. Today there is no accountability in the justice delivery system. Judges from other States are not responding to our concerns. The Chief Justice must immediately pay attention to these issues," they said.

The AAB further alleged serious irregularities in the functioning of courts. According to the lawyers, in several courts, memos filed by advocates are not being accepted, matters are not being listed and some judges allegedly throw petitions back at advocates.

The protesters also claimed that bench clerks and court staff had effectively taken over administrative functions within courtrooms. They alleged that non-law graduates were scrutinising court filings in litigation sections and demanded that legally qualified personnel be appointed to such departments.

The association also expressed dissatisfaction over the condition of infrastructure in the city civil court, magistrate courts and Mayo Hall courts.

It alleged that despite the Bar's contribution towards improving infrastructure, the judiciary had failed to extend adequate cooperation, resulting in inconvenience to both lawyers and litigants.

The lawyers also urged judges and magistrates to remember that they had emerged from the legal profession and cautioned against alienating members of the bar.

Women advocates participating in the protest complained about inadequate sanitation facilities in subordinate courts.

According to them, male and female advocates are forced to use the same toilet in some court complexes, compelling women lawyers to wait until male advocates leave before using the facility.

Association president Vivek Subba Reddy and general secretary HV Praveen Gowda said the protest was only symbolic and warned of intensified agitation if the issues remained unresolved.

"Lawyers are frustrated with the problems they face every day. Those who are expected to discharge their responsibilities are acting irresponsibly. Some judges and magistrates are looking down upon lawyers. Today's protest is only symbolic. If the issues are not resolved immediately, we will have to consider the next course of action," they said.