Haryana District Bar Resolves To Not Work On Saturdays, Punjab & Haryana HC Asks To Approach State Bar Council

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has asked the petitioners challenging the resolution passed by the General Body of the District Bar Association Hisar resolving that five days week be observed as working days and all Saturdays as no work day, to approach the Bar Council of Punjab & Haryana.

Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Harmeet Singh Grewal said, "There is an inhouse remedy of preferring representation/dispute before the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana, which can be very well availed by the petitioners."

Counsel representing the petitioners submitted that the decision taken by the District Bar Association, Hissar is in violation of the law laid down by the Apex Court in District Bar Association Dehradun through its Secretary versus Ishwar Shandilya and others.

The Supreme Court in District Bar Association Dehradun (supra) case came down heavily on the advocates in the districts of Dehradun, Hardwar and Udham Singh Nagar in Uttarakhand for holding strike by boycotting courts.

A bench comprising Justices Arun Mishra and M R Shah categorically held that boycott of courts by advocates was illegal, and cannot be justified as an exercise of right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India.

"To go on strike/boycott courts cannot be justified under the guise of the right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution. Nobody has the right to go on strike/boycott courts. Even, such a right, if any, cannot affect the rights of others and more particularly, the right of Speedy Justice guaranteed under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution", the Court had observed.

After hearing the submissions, the bench said that "without entering into the merits of the instant petition liberty is extended to the petitioners to prefer a representation before the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana within a period of 30 days...along with a copy of this petition and orders passed today."

While disposing of the plea, the Court asked the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana to consider and decide the same "by passing a speaking order within an outer limit of 60 days and the same shall be communicated to the petitioners."

Praneet Kaur advocate for the petitioner.

Title: Rajpal & Ors. v. District Bar Association Hisar & Ors.

Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (PH) 95

Click here to read/download the order