Lawyers go on indefinite strike to press for HC bench in western Uttar Pradesh

MUZAFFARNAGAR: Lawyers across 12 districts of western Uttar Pradesh have launched an indefinite strike to push their demand for a separate bench of the Allahabad High Court in the region.

"Call for the strike was given by the state action committee of agitating lawyers of the 12 districts," President of the Action Committee D D Sharma told reporters here today.

In the meeting held in Meerut yesterday, it was decided that the lawyers of western districts would remain on strike and the committee would decide its future course of action in another meeting to be held on January 14 in Baghpat.

The lawyers have long been demanding setting up of a bench of Allahabad High Court in the region for the convenience of litigants.

Meanwhile, judicial work has come to a standstill in these districts as lawyers have been boycotting courts since November 13 last year.

The association also opposed the High Court's decision, which had recently transferred the hearing of cases in Meerut to Moradabad as litigants faced hardships due to the strike.