Lawyers abstain from court proceedings

Following the call given by the State Bar Council, the members of Dharwad Bar Association abstained from the court proceedings in Dharwad on Wednesday, to protest the Supreme Court collegium’s decision to transfer Justice Jayant Patel. Justice Jayant Patel has now resigned.

The advocates in Dharwad held a meeting and condemned the collegium’s decision. Speaking on the occasion, Dharwad Bar Association President R U Bellakki, V D Kamaraddi, Shivanand Bhavikatti, and M N Mantur said, the collegium’s decision to transfer Justice Patel when he was due to become the acting chief justice of Karnataka High Court soon after the retirement of incumbent CJ Mukharjee, amounted to humiliating a judge.

“Justice Patel was the senior most judge next the CJ in Karnataka High Court, and he was to be the natural choice for the post of acting chief justice when Justice Mukharjee retires. To deprive him the opportunity, Justice Patel was transferred to Allahabad High Court where he will be the third senior judge. This is highly deplorable” the advocates said.

He said Patel had been transferred to a position which is lower than this current position at Allahabad High Court.

They said, there was already a shortage of judges in the Karnataka High Court. The transfer of one more judge will adversely affect the working of the judiciary.

“At present there are only 25 judges in Karnataka High Court (including Dharwad and Kalaburagi benches) against the sanctioned stregthen of 62. Steps should be taken to appoint more judges to the court,” they added.

In Hubballi
Responding to the call given by the Karnataka State Bar Council, members of the Hubballi Bar Association abstained from the court proceedings here on Wednesday.

Holding a meeting, the bar association members noted that the transfer of Justice Jayant Patel from Karnataka High Court to Allahabad High Court is an injustice, and it is a black spot on the judiciary.

Justice Patel’s resignation would have an adverse impact on the judicial system, they lamented. Bar Association President D M Nargund, General Secretary Ashok Anwekar, and others were present.