Delhi HC issues notice in Bar Council of Delhi plea to allow advocates residing in UP, Haryana to visit their offices in Delhi

The Delhi High Court today issued notice in Bar Council of Delhi's petition to allow advocates residing in neighbouring areas of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to visit their offices in the national capital..Notice to the Central Government, Delhi Government, Uttar Pradesh Government and Haryana Government was issued by a Bench of Justices Manmohan and Sanjeev Narula..In its Petition filed through Advocate Amit Prakash Shahi, the Petitioner has contended that not allowing advocates, who are residing in areas neighboring Delhi, such as Noida, Gurugram etc, to cross Delhi borders to use their offices during lockdown was in violation of Central Government notification permitting the use of private offices..[LOCKDOWN] Bar Council of Delhi moves Delhi HC to allow advocates residing in UP, Haryana to visit offices/courts in Delhi.The Petitioner's specific grievance was directed against the Governments of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana who were refusing to permit the advocates to cross their borders to reach to their offices in Delhi..During the course of the hearing, Chairman, Bar Council of Delhi, Advocate KC Mittal requested the Court to direct the Respondents to consider the grievances raised in the Petition and resolve the same. .Mittal stated that the Petition was not an adversarial litigation and lawyers themselves were very conscious and disciplined in the fight against COVID-19. .Delhi Government supported the Petition as it stated that use of private offices was permitted in the city. .While the Government of Haryana opposed the Petition, the Uttar Pradesh Government remained unrepresented. .Central Government assured the Court that an endeavor would be made to resolve the grievances raised in the petition. .ASG Maninder Acharya appeared for Centre. .Advocate Sunil Vashisht appeared for Delhi Government. Advocate Anil Grover represented Haryana Government. . The matter would be heard next on May 18.