HC lawyers' strike continues, delegation to meet Law minister Sadananda Gowda

ALLAHABAD: Judicial work was paralysed at the Allahabad High Court for the third consecutive day today due to the strike by lawyers to protest proposed creation of a separate bench for western Uttar Pradesh even as a delegation left for New Delhi to meet the Union Law minister.

The three-member delegation headed by High Court Bar Association (HCBA) president Rakesh Pandey left for the national capital this morning, the agitating lawyers were informed at a meeting held in front of the High Court's main gate this morning.

The agitating legal practitioners were told "The Union Law Minister Sadananda Gowda will be meeting the delegation tomorrow morning.

The delegates are accompanied by Allahabad MP Shyama Charan Gupta and Phulpur MP Keshav Maurya, both of whom are in Delhi to attend the ongoing Parliament session".

It was decided that the "indefinite" strike will continue tomorrow and "further course of action will be decided after receiving a word from the members of the delegation regarding the outcome of the meeting".

Judicial work has remained paralysed at the High Court since Friday afternoon when the advocates went on a flash strike following media reports claiming that the Centre was in favour of creation of a separate bench for western UP.

While agitations are on in a number of western UP districts to press the demand for a separate bench, advocates at the High Court here are vehemently opposed to such a move which is likely to deprive them of a sizable clientele from the relatively affluent region.

Significantly, the High Court is now left with only five more working days, beginning tomorrow, in this calendar year before it closes down for the winter vacation on December 24.