Such type of politics cannot be allowed: BCI on Punjab & Haryana High Court Bar Association resolution to boycott Chief Justice's Court

The Bar Council of India (BCI) on Monday declined to stay the decision of the State Bar Council against a resolution passed by the Punjab & Haryana High Court Bar Association to boycott the Court of Chief Justice Ravi Shanker Jha until he is transferred to another State. .The Bar Association had passed the said resolution last week, alleging that the working of the High Court during the COVID-19 pandemic has been very problematic and that important matters like those pertaining to bail, habeas corpus, and detention were not being listed..The State Bar Council stayed the said resolution the same day. This prompted the Bar Association to move a review plea challenging the State Bar Council order before the BCI..As per a statement issued on Tuesday, the matter was taken upon on Monday, with the BCI opining that: It cannot support any resolution for boycott of the Court of the Chief Justice or any Judge of High Court on such grounds. Such extreme recourse could be taken by a body of lawyers only in the rarest of rare cases, where there are strong compelling grounds and where there is no other remedy left to the legal fraternity.The demand for the transfer of the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court is, prima-facie, is improper, unjustified and is not going to solve any problem. Such type of politics cannot be allowed to be indulged into by any Bar Association/s and Bar Associations have been advised to desist from passing such resolution/s..The BCI has observed that issues such as those raised by the Bar Association have been common to most High Courts during the pandemic."Barring one or two, High Courts, almost all other High Courts are unable to take-up urgent matters and there is a strong resentment among the litigants and the lawyers, but, at the same time, the Council has also taken into consideration the serious risk of the life of lawyers and their staff even when the cases are conducted through Video-Conferencing," the BCI statement further said..All the same, the BCI has constituted a seven-member committee to meet with the Chief Justice of the Punjab & Haryana High Court, in an effort to addresses the grievances raised by the advocates. The Committee includes the following members:1. Senior Advocate Ashwani Chopra (Convener of the Committee); 2. The President, High Court Bar Association, Punjab and Haryana High Court (Co-Convener of the Committee); 3. Harpreet Singh Brar, Former Chairman, Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana; 4. Honorary Secretary, High Court Bar Association, Punjab and Haryana High Court; 5. Senior Advocate Advocate Puneet Bali;6. Senior Advocate Anu Chatrath; and 7. Partap Singh, Member, Bar Council of India (Special Invitee). .The BCI has requested the Chief Justice to hear the Committee so that grievances raised can be addressed as far as practical and feasible."The Bar Council of India has expressed and placed its hopes and trust on the Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court that he will fix a meeting with the Committee soon after getting a request from its Convener," the BCI statement further reads..The Bar Association's revision petition has been fixed for final hearing by the BCI on May 14. .[Read the BCI Statement]