Jammu & Kashmir High Court issues show cause notice to three lawyers for scandalous remarks against judiciary

The Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court recently issued show cause notices to three advocates for allegedly making scandalous remarks against judiciary during a media interview on the Bar's opposition to shifting of Jammu bench from its current location at Janipur to Raika. .The foundation for the new high court complex at Raika was laid by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud on June 28 in Jammu. The notice to the lawyers was issued on October 17 by MK Sharma, who is Chief Justice N Kotiswar Singh's Principal Secretary. The three advocates, Arvind Bhandral, Umesh Sharma and Bhavishya Sudan, have been asked by the Chief Justice's Secretariat to explain their position by October 25..According to the show cause notice issued to one of the lawyers, some members of the J&K High Court Bar Association at Jammu are opposed to the shifting of the High Court from Janipur to Raipur.It further reads that the lawyer allegedly "uttered some words scandalizing the institution of judiciary"."Before proceeding ahead in the matter, by medium of this show cause notice, you are asked to explain your position in writing on or before 25th October, 2023," the notice states..Lawyers in Jammu have been up in arms against against the shifting of the High Court. Environment activists are also opposed to the move as they have alleged the project will result in the felling of around 38,000 trees. .As per the available information, the project is expected to be completed in one and a half years. A 'No Objection Certificate' (NOC) from the department of wildlife and forests has been obtained for it and the National Green Tribunal has also passed orders in its favour..However, Jammu based lawyers are of the opinion that move will greatly affect their work, especially lawyers whose practice is settled in Janipur for the last 30-40 years. The Jammu bench of the High Court was located in the Mubarak Mandi complex in Jammu till 1990s. Later it was shift to Janipur in 1994. Besides the High Court, the premises also accommodate the district court complex, Advocate General's office and Judicial Academy