Punjab Lawyers’ Strike: High Court Hopes for an Amicable Settlement

The Punjab and Haryana High Court, sitting in Chandigarh, voiced a quiet optimism on Monday that the simmering lawyers’ strike across Punjab would be settled without the need for a judicial hand‑hold.

It all began when advocate Arvind Seth filed a public‑interest litigation, arguing that litigants were being denied their right to justice because several district bars had issued an open‑ended “no work” call. The protest, he said, was centred on the National Legal Services Authority’s Legal Aid Defence Counsel System – a scheme meant to ensure legal representation for those who can’t afford it.

Bar bodies in the state, however, aren’t thrilled. They claim the new system chips away at the work that practising lawyers traditionally get, effectively cutting into their livelihood. A handful of bar associations have even passed formal resolutions denouncing the scheme and urging their members not to appear before courts until the matter is sorted.

During the hearing, the court asked the president of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association, together with a few Bar Council members, to step forward. Their response was a reminder that internal disputes are best ironed out within the bar itself, not dragged into the courts.

Acting Chief Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra, presiding over the bench, summed it up with a hopeful note: “We trust that wiser heads will prevail and this court will not be called upon to intervene judicially.” The case was then adjourned to July 23, giving the bar a few more days to try and find common ground.

While protests are a legitimate way for professionals to flag grievances, the court’s stance underscores a broader principle – the administration of justice should never be hostage to a labour dispute. All eyes now remain on the bar’s leadership to see if they can negotiate a solution that respects both the lawyers’ concerns and the public’s right to legal aid.