38.6c New Delhi, India, Friday, March 29, 2024
Judiciary

Bombay HC Hears Pleas to Allow Lawyers to Travel in Local Trains

By Richa Shah      30 September, 2020 09:01 PM      0 Comments
Bombay HC Hears Pleas to Allow Lawyers to Travel in Local Trains

On Tuesday (29th September 2020), the Bombay High Court said that it cannot keep hearing in pleas seeking inclusion of lawyers in the list of essential services in order for them to travel in local trains limited to lawyers only. At a time when people from all types of professions are starving and losing jobs, it is not valid to include only lawyers in the list of essential services.

The PIL was heard by a bench of two judges: Justice Dipankar Dutta and Justice GS Kulkarni.

Two separate PILs were heard of which one was filed by the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa and the other was filed by Consumer Court Advocates Association. The first PIL wanted the inclusion of advocates in the list of essential services while the second PIL focused on seeking directions to resume the physical hearing.

Chief Justice Dipankar Dutta informed Advocate Uday Warunjikar who was appearing for both the petitions that the government is currently allowing only private organizations to work at a capacity of only 50%. At such a time, when all professions have taken a hit due to the pandemic, it would be a bias of the Court to allow lawyers to travel by local trains. He also said that the court was thinking for a long time that instead of physical hearing during peak hours, it would be a viable option to keep the hearings at lean hours like that between 2 pm to 6 pm.

A concern raised by Government Pleader Poornima Kantharia was that trains that are running currently are overcrowded and after the lockdown, the rush has increased significantly.

In response to this, Justice Kulkarni said that it was feasible for hearing to happen at lean hours as the traffic would be very less in Mumbai at non-peak times.

The Justice then heard the plea which sought after the inclusion of advocates in the list of essential services. He said that it was not possible and right to only think about the lawyers. If the conversation is kept limited to the lawyers, it would seem bias. At a time where everyone is losing jobs and starving, a formula needs to create which would benefit not only the lawyers but others as well.

The court also added that cooperation from the people is required and The Bar Council of India is meant for the Advocates but it is also a statutory body and has a duty towards others as well.

However, the bench also asked the state to consider the discussions and points which came up during the hearing and allow lawyers of the lower courts such as the Consumer Courts to travel in local trains.



Share this article:



Leave a feedback about this
TRENDING NEWS

arvind-kejriwals-plea-for-interim-release-rejected-by-delhi-high-court
Trending Judiciary
Arvind Kejriwal's plea for interim release rejected by Delhi High Court [Read Order]

Delhi High Court rejects Arvind Kejriwal's plea for interim release in money laundering case related to liquor policy scam, pending ED's response.

28 March, 2024 10:50 AM
youtuber-strings-plea-against-youtube-accounts-suspension-andhra-pradesh-hc-issues-notice-to-centre-google
Trending Top Stories
BREAKING: Youtuber String’s plea against Youtube accounts suspension: Andhra Pradesh HC issues notice to Centre, Google

Andhra Pradesh High Court issues notice to the Centre and Google LLC on Youtube journalist String’s plea against suspension of its accounts by Google (which owns Youtube).

28 March, 2024 11:26 AM

TOP STORIES

delhi-liquor-scam-court-remands-arvind-kejriwal-to-ed-custody-till-march-28-read-remand-application
Trending Judiciary
Delhi liquor scam: Court remands Arvind Kejriwal to ED custody till March 28 [Read Order]

Delhi liquor scam: Arvind Kejriwal remanded to ED custody till March 28. Court grants agency permission for interrogation in liquor policy case.

23 March, 2024 11:53 AM
sc-dismisses-centres-plea-for-review-of-judgment-directing-ed-to-furnish-written-grounds-of-arrest-to-pmla-accused
Trending Judiciary
SC dismisses Centre’s plea for review of judgment directing ED to furnish written grounds of arrest to PMLA accused [Read Order]

Supreme Court dismisses Centre's plea, upholds judgment mandating Enforcement Directorate to provide written grounds of arrest in PMLA cases.

23 March, 2024 03:14 PM
kerala-hc-to-hear-lesbian-couples-plea-against-forced-conversion-therapy-on-april-9
Trending Judiciary
Kerala HC to hear lesbian couple’s plea against forced conversion therapy on April 9

Kerala HC will hear a lesbian couple’s plea highlighting that one of them was subjected to forced conversion therapy.

23 March, 2024 03:30 PM
how-can-people-be-compelled-to-vote-madras-hc-asks
Trending Judiciary
“How can people be compelled to vote? Madras HC asks

“How can people be compelled to vote?”, the Madras HC queried in a plea asking employers in Tamil Nadu to demand proof from employees of having voted on polling day.

23 March, 2024 05:04 PM

ADVERTISEMENT


Join Group

Signup for Our Newsletter

Get Exclusive access to members only content by email