A day after Jharkhand High Court registered a contempt petition against Jharkhand State Bar Council( JSBA) for issuing notice to government advocates to participate in the judicial process despite its decision to stay away from court work, JSBA President Rajendra Krishna and its Spokesperson Sanjay Vidrohi withdrew their strike.

The strike was called off by JSBA after it got directed by its top body Bar Council of India to do so. The Bar Council of India Joint Secretary Ashok Kumar Pandey in a letter of the order dated January 13 wrote this.

“The Chairman and Members of Jharkhand Bar Council are requested and directed to call off the strike and boycott of courts immediately.
 
The State Bar Council is also directed to furnish the reasons for such extreme step of strike by it and to explain as why did the State Bar Council not move before the Honourable High Court for redressal of grievances.”

The JSBA’s sudden withdrawal of their week-long strike is the result of this Bar Council of India’s order ( a copy of Bar Council of India’s order is enclosed for the perusal of viewers by JharkhandStateNews.com) and has gained significance for two other reasons. 

One, the lawyers will return to work allowing judicial work to start functioning normally from coming Monday. Two, the state government led by CM Hemant Soren is bound to have a shy of relief.  

JSBA members numbering over 33000 were on strike in protest against the state government’s decision to hike the court fees since January 6. They were demanding the withdrawal of the Jharkhand Court Fees Amendment Act 2022.

Their strike paralysed judicial work across Jharkhand. However, some government lawyers such as Public Prosecutors and Advocate Generals defied the JSBA’s decision and continued to work. This promoted JSBA office bearers to issue letters-notice- to seven government lawyers, asking them to adhere to its decision.

Responding to its notice, a contempt of court petition was filed. Ex-Advocate General and senior lawyer Anil Kumar and others demanded to initiate a contempt petition against the JSBA’s notice givers.

They submitted that the JSBA’s notice was against the Supreme Court’s order and cited its details.

Jharkhand High Court Justice Anand Sen ordered to stay the notice and register a contempt petition against the JSBA members who had issued notice against the government lawyers and put up this case in the court of the acting Chief Justice Amresh Kumar Singh.

Lawyers have the duty to argue cases of the petitioners.” The notice served by the JSBA office bearers to Advocate Association members is alarming. This will frighten young lawyers and they will fear to represent cases of the petitioners”, observed Justice Sen on Friday.

Today, when JSBA members were slated to meet in the evening to decide their course of action in light of the JHC’s order, JSBA President Rajendra Krishna and its Spokesperson Sanjay Vidrohi withdrew their week-long strike.