Supreme Court prohibits Uttar Pradesh Bar bodies from resorting to strikes on working days

The Supreme Court on Friday disallowed bar associations in Uttar Pradesh from organizing strikes or abstaining from judicial work on court working days. .This order was passed during the hearing of a case concerning the Faizabad District Bar Association’s strikes.A Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan observed that if such actions occur, the High Court is at liberty to initiate suo motu proceedings against the responsible office bearers of the concerned bar body and even remove them from their posts.“Bar association shall not pass any resolution to abstain from work on court working days. In case it happens, High Court can take suo motu action against the office bearers. The action may also include removal of office bearers as penal action,” the Court said..The Court stated that this order would apply to all district bar associations in Uttar Pradesh.Pertinently, the Court also directed the formation of a three-judge High Court committee to oversee instances of strikes by lawyers. Any such actions must lead to penalties against office bearers, with no tolerance for leniency or a soft approach, the Court added..The Court was hearing the bar association's appeal against an August 8 decision of the Allahabad High Court that established an committee to take over the affairs of the association and oversee its business and guarantee that elections to its Governing Council are held by December 2024.The Court today commended the committee for successfully conducting peaceful elections to elect the office bearers of Faizabad Bar Association.The Court left the decision on whether the committee should continue for two years was left to the discretion of the High Court.“Rules of Faizabad Bar Association states that a committee of 5 senior members of association be formed as alders committee. We appreciate the work done by the committee who conducted the elections peacefully. We permit alders committee to file application before High Court in matter already decided leaving it to the discretion of the High Court to take a call whether the alder committee continue for two years,” the Court said.