We have forgotten the past, aberration of last 33 years should not haunt us anymore: Advocate GA Lone

Prominent advocate from Jammu and Kashmir Ghulam Ahmad Lone said the situation in the region has haunted lawyers for long and only four to five lawyers from J&K and Ladakh have been elevated to the bench of the High Court in the last 33 years.

Lone, was speaking in presence of Chief Justice of India Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai and other legal luminaries at the North Zone Regional Conference organised by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) in collaboration with the High Court of J&K and Ladakh and J&K Legal Services Authority at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre on the banks of Dal Lake in Srinagar.

“The Bar Association worked in harmony with the High Court since its inception in 1928 and provided justice to all without fear, favor or ill will…unfortunately we had an aberration in the last decade of the 20th century (in J&K). The whole apparatus was affected so were the lawyers. We have changed now but those aberrations are still haunting us,” said Lone. He further explained, “they are haunting us because in the last 33 years there are only four to five lawyers from J&K and Ladakh who have been elevated to the bench of the High Court.” He said CJI’s remarks that lawyers from this region (J&K and Ladakh) were as brilliant as lawyers from other parts of the country was encouraging and if that is so the ‘past aberrations should no longer haunt the lawyer community.’


“We are one with you. We want to work in harmony and with dedication and uphold principles of law and constitution. We are committed to that,” said Lone adding, “we make a pledge here that we have forgotten the past.” He quoted famous Persian poet-philosopher and jurist Maulana Rumi saying, “Yesterday I was clever and I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise and I want to change myself.”

Lone also delved into the history of J&K and genesis of the legal system here which he claimed was formally introduced by the Dogra rulers of the region. “Kashmir, as per Raj Tarangini of Kalhana, is a civilization and culture since 2000 to 3000 BC. We then witnessed a Sufi movement that proclaimed omnipotence and omnipresence of God and taught us to respect people irrespective of race, culture, caste, language or religion. We still uphold those principles,” said Lone. He further added that the region witnessed ‘several invasions by Mughals, Afghans and Sikhs.’

“None of them left any legacy. They came, ruled the region and left. They did not give us any legal jurisprudence or any legal system. It is not mentioned in any history book,” said Lone adding, “then after 1846 Dogra rulers were the first to introduce administrative, judicial and revenue systems here and provided laws, which we are still following.”

“Dogra rulers started the High Court in 1928. They also formed the Board of Judicial Advisors, who would hear appeals against the High Court,” said Lone, adding, “You would understand the system of justice and fairness we had that the then Maharaja has not even once, to my knowledge, objected to decision of their (High Court and Board) and accepted their orders despite being a monarch.”