Lawyers' protest in Gandhinagar court over long-pending demands

Tension has escalated between lawyers and the district judiciary at the Gandhinagar District Court, with advocates launching an aggressive protest over several long-pending demands. Under the banner of the Gandhinagar Bar Association, more than 700 lawyers boycotted court proceedings, bringing judicial work to a near standstill.

As part of the agitation, lawyers also restricted the entry of litigants into the court premises, causing significant inconvenience to hundreds of people who had arrived for hearings and other legal matters.

According to the protesting advocates, dissatisfaction with the administrative functioning of the current District Judge is at the centre of the dispute. Lawyers allege that they are frequently subjected to unnecessary harassment over minor procedural issues and that heavy financial penalties are imposed even for small mistakes during court proceedings.

Another major point of contention is the language used in court. Advocates claim that the District Judge, who hails from outside Gujarat, insists on conducting arguments in Hindi. Lawyers who have traditionally practiced in Gujarati argue that presenting complex legal submissions in Hindi has become difficult and has adversely affected their work. The Bar Association has therefore demanded the judge's immediate transfer.

The protest has also highlighted infrastructure-related grievances in the newly constructed court building. With nearly 1,500 to 2,000 advocates practicing in Gandhinagar, lawyers say adequate seating and workspace have not been provided. They are demanding proper allocation of tables and seating facilities in line with the original plan.

Lawyers claim that despite submitting several written representations regarding these issues, no concrete action was taken by the authorities. Frustrated by the lack of response, advocates began an indefinite sit-in outside the court complex earlier this week by setting up a protest camp.

On the fourth day of the agitation, lawyers intensified their protest with slogan-shouting demonstrations, while the Bar Association's rooms and workspaces remained largely deserted due to the boycott. Protest leaders have warned that the agitation will continue until a permanent solution is reached regarding the transfer demand and the seating arrangements for advocates.