The bench was hearing an application filed by the Registrar General of the Orissa High Court which has said the abstention of work by the members of the bar associations in several districts has seriously hampered the judicial work in all the subordinate courts of the state.
The bench of Justices S K Kaul and A S Oka expressed displeasure over the abstention of work, saying access to justice is the very foundation of the legal system.
The top court said it expects full working by all the bar associations there by Wednesday, and their failure to do so might result in contempt of court and also suspension or cancellation of licences.
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The bench said it would come down very heavily if the abstention from work continues, and will not hesitate in suspending lawyers even if the number runs into 100 or 200.
Legal fraternity is the instrument for people at large to pursue justice, and when they abstain from court proceedings, the casualty is the access to justice and ultimately the people suffer, the court said.
“We will not countenance this,” the bench said, adding, “The public cannot be treated like this. At the end of the day, they are the sufferers.” In its application, the Registrar General of the Orissa HC said that as per the information received from the concerned district judges, the reasons for such abstention include, “(demand for) establishment of permanent bench of the High Court of Orissa (in Samabalpur), demise of advocates,...
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