Bar defiant despite CJI's intervention

Gauhati High Court IMPASSE

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, Aug 20: With the impasse arising out of the conflict between the bar and the Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court entering the fourth day today, Chief Justice of India HL Dattu has asked the next senior-most judge of the High Court Tinlianthang Vaiphei to try and resolve the issue amicably.

However, the bar has refused to withdraw their boycott of the Chief Justice (acting) K Shreedhar Rao and said they would decide their further course of action on Monday.

The CJI had last night called up Justice Vaiphei, asking him to speak to the bar and resolve the issue amicably.

Justice Vaiphei today invited the bar members and requested them to withdraw their boycott. He assured that the contentious issues would be addressed in two weeks' time.

However, bar decided not to withdraw their boycott immediately and "wait and watch what happens in the next two/three days". "We have convened a general meeting again on Monday and we will decide our next course of action on that day," senior advocate Arup Borbora said.

He said the demands of the bar are not "unreasoble" and unless these are addressed, the lawyers will not relent.

Bar members will also call on the CJI in New Delhi and raise the issues soon, Borbora said.

The Gauhati High Court Bas Association have been boycotting the Chief Justice's court - whether single or division with any other judge - since Monday last.

The bar has accused the Chief Justice of arbitrarily transferring a number of PILs from the Aruchal bench to his court. He is also being accused of appointing a particular lawyer as amicus curiae in the cases, which is not in keeping with the tradition of the court.

The bar is also peeved at the iction of the Chief Justice despite repeated reminders for revamping and preserving the old High Court building.

It was also alleged that the Acting Chief Justice had been attending the court only in the first half of the day since the last six months or so and that his behavior against some lawyers was "questioble".

Rao, an officer of the Kartaka Judicial Service, was sworn in as a judge of the Gauhati High Court in October, 2013. He is slated to retire in October this year.

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