Advocates' Association Bengaluru calls meeting to discuss functioning of Karnataka High Court CJ

The Advocates’ Association of Bengaluru (AAB) has called for a special general body meeting on December 11 to discuss its concerns over the functioning of the Karnataka High Court and its Chief Justice NV Anjaria..“The special general body meeting of the Advocates’ Association is convened under 17A of the bylaws on 11.12.2024 to meet and discuss about the problems faced by the members in the High Court. Difficulties faced by advocate in respect of hearings in Court Hall number 1. Lapses in administration in the registry, Bangalore bench and lack of transparency in board and posting branches of the Registry,” the AAB’s notification reads.Among the issues to be discussed in AAB's meeting are CJ Anjaria’s practice of coming to his courtroom late and rising before the official court hours end..The Association also made a representation before CJ Anjaria himself in September this year seeking to resolve all issues. However, the Chief Justice “is yet to respond to the grievances” when the Association members aired their grievances, AAB President advocate Vivek Subba Reddy told Bar & Bench.The Association further said that the Chief Justice not sticking to the official court hours negatively impacts case resolutions, has led to piling up of writ appeals, and worst of all, it also forces hundreds of lawyers to wait in his court without any idea of when he was likely to arrive..“All of this impacts the Bar negatively. I even made a request in the open court the day before. I told him (CJ Anajria) in open court that if you are coming late then at least inform us so that we do not keep waiting and can attend to our matters listed before the other court. I told him that there was one Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court who would send a message via his staff even if he was going to be late by five minutes on any day. But he simply said that these things can be discussed in chambers,” Reddy said..Coming late to court is just one of the grievances that the Association has raised against CJ Anjaria. Reddy said that in its meeting, the bar body will also discuss the problems that all members of the Bar have been facing relating to administrative work and lack of transparency in the High Court registry when it comes to listing of matters.“Lawyers are not getting hearing dates. There is an imminent need to constitute more benches. Writ appeals are piling up. He (CJ Anjaria) is not sitting on administrative issues. And there are transparency issues in the registry. This lack of concern for the members of the bar is something that is very disappointing,” Reddy stated..The Association further cited an instance in which a contempt of court case has been adjourned to December next year. “A young lawyer showed us this. On December 3, he was given December 13, 2025 as the next date of hearing. After a year. That too in a contempt matter. This is a matter of great concern,” Reddy said.