In Ahmedabad, functioning of nearly 20 courts has been disrupted due to the promotion and subsequent training of several judges, resulting in a significant impact on judicial proceedings particularly in criminal, rural, and cheque return cases.

Sources reveal that a total of 15 judges from various courts including 9 from Gheekanta Criminal Court, 2 from cheque return courts, and 4 from Rural and small causes courts (civil court) have recently been promoted and are currently attending training. 

Five judges have been transferred to cheque return courts, leading to a complete shutdown of those five benches. As a result, judicial work across 16 courts is either slowed or entirely halted.

The disruption has had a direct impact on litigants and lawyers. Many pending cases have been randomly reassigned to other functioning courts, creating logistical and scheduling confusion, particularly within criminal courts. 

Meanwhile, the cheque return courts, dealing with cases under the Negotiable Instruments Act, are facing a unique set of challenges. Though the Gujarat High Court recently established five new courts bringing the total to 21 cheque return courts at the Apna Bazaar complex in Lal Darwaja many of these new courtrooms are reportedly small and overcrowded. 

Lawyers and litigants have complained of inadequate space, lack of ventilation, and poor infrastructure, making the process even more stressful during the ongoing summer heat. 

Legal experts have also renewed the longstanding demand to introduce morning courts during peak summer months to offer relief from the sweltering temperatures.

Former Executive Member of the Ahmedabad Criminal Courts Bar Association, Brij Kella, noted that while former Acting Chief Justice Anant Dave had given approval to the concept of morning courts, no concrete action has been taken since.

Currently over 4,00,000 cheque return cases are awaiting resolution across the state, with Ahmedabad alone accounting for the majority of the cases.