In a press statement on 6th December 2020, The Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana have extended support to the Bharat Bandh call on 8th December 2020 given by farmers protesting the new agricultural laws.
In a press statement issued on 06 December 2020, the council stated, “The Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana supports the call of Bharat Bandh given by the farmers for December 8 and requests the advocates of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh, including Punjab and Haryana high court to abstain from work on 8th December 2020.”
The Bar Council has also requested the Union Government to immediately withdraw the 3 Farmers' Acts passed by the Parliament recently. The press reads as, "The Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana opposes the new Agriculture Acts passed by the Central government. These new enactments are not only detrimental to the interests of farmers but are also detrimental to the interest of lawyers. The Bar of civil court jurisdiction in these new Acts is serious challenge to the independence of judiciary."
Further it was added that, “The separation of judiciary and executive is a salient feature of our constitution. Under the new Acts the disputes will be heard by SDM/ADMs who are not trained to hear the litigation involving civil consequences and moreover, they are administrative organ of the Government and would be unable to protect the rights of farmers. The disputes arising out of new enactments will involve commercial matters, contract act agreement and partnership matters which is under the preview of civil courts and therefore, baring the civil court jurisdiction is detrimental to the interest of lawyers and is an effort to undermine the judiciary."
It has also written to the heads of Bar Council of India and state bar councils to support the farmers’ bandh call by abstaining from work on the day.
Moreover, the Bar Council has decided to send 1,000 blankets and dry ration to the agitating farmers at Sindhu border.
Punjab RERA bar body voiced solidarity with the ongoing agitation of farmers as the advocates associated with Punjab RERA Bar Association will also abstain from work on 8th December 2020 in support of the agitating farmers. “It has been resolved unanimously that in view of the call by the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana, the advocates of this association will abstain from appearing before RERA and REAT on December 8 in solidarity with the ongoing agitation of farmers,” stated the press release issued by Punjab RERA Bar Association.
The protest is going on against the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.
