Bombay City Civil And Sessions Court Lawyers Conclude Hunger Strike Following Positive Outcome In Talks With Chief Justice

Lawyers practicing at the Bombay City Civil and Sessions Court, who had been on a hunger strike since January 2, 2024, protesting the transfer of certain judges from the Fort branch to the Mazagaon branch, concluded their 5-day chain hunger strike today. The protest was a continuation of their two-day hunger strike in December 2023.

As per Advocate Ravi Jadhav, President of the Bombay City Civil & Sessions Court Bar Association Mumbai, the protest was called off after assurances given by Chief Justice Devendra Upadhyaya and other judges of the Bombay HC in a meeting on January 4, 2024.

The Bar Association demanded advocates' consultation on matters concerning the bar and bench, infrastructure issues, and the rights of advocates. The Chief Justice assured that advocates will be heard and their concerns addressed in any matter concerning them, as per a press note released by Jadhav.

According to Jadhav, the Chief Justice assured that no further courts would be transferred, and the existing number of 65 courts would be maintained, dispelling fears of a reduction in the number of courts.

The Bar Association demanded that the eight courts already transferred be brought back to the Fort branch. According to Jadhav, the Chief Justice clarified that the existing 65 courts would be maintained, and directions were given to the Principal Judge to rearrange the courts as required.

The Chief Justice agreed to conduct a structural audit of the current building and explore options like NCC, MTNL, CTO land/buildings for finding a centralized location for the entire Bombay City Civil & Sessions Court, Jadhav told Live Law.

The demand to prevent the random distribution of cases by the Principal Judge was addressed, with the Chief Justice directing the rationalization of cases, seeking the opinion of the Bar Association before transferring any files, according to Advocate Jadhav.

Various other issues, including matters related to the canteen, electric city bill, complaints against judges, infrastructure, and space for the bar, were directed to be resolved through necessary steps and consultations. Advocate Syed Asif Naqvi, Secretary of the Bar Association, told Live Law that the Bar Association has sought a waiver of the electricity bill for their premises within the court, as no other bar association is required to pay the same.

In light of this, the Bar Association, in an extraordinary General Body meeting, decided to postpone the hunger strike. They plan to send their proposal and representation to the Chief Justice and the Principal Judge, Bombay City Civil and Sessions Court expressing their commitment to fight if anything goes against the interests of advocates.

The hunger strike in January was a continuation of the protest against the transfer of judges that began in December. The initial hunger strike, named 'Sakhali Uposhan,' took place on December 21 and 22. The Bar Association had expressed concerns about the transfer of 8 judges from the main branch in Fort to the Mazagaon branch, and the protest continued into the new year.

The lawyers had alleged that the transfers breached oral assurances given during the earlier strike and emphasized their commitment to fighting for the rights of advocates. The Bar Association claimed that the transfers would inconvenience both litigants and advocates due to a lack of adequate transport and facilities in the Mazagaon branch.

A response from the Bombay HC administration confirming the discussion in the meeting is awaited. This story will be updated once an official response is received.