THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, March 5: The Advocates Association has decided to boycott the courts of Chief Justice M.S. Ramchandra Rao and Justices Sujit Narayan Prasad and Rongon Mukhopadhyay starting tomorrow. The move is in protest against the alleged decision to appoint ‘outsider’ lawyers as judges in the Jharkhand High Court, a demand the association has strongly opposed.
Collegium’s ‘Decision’ Sparks Protest
These three judges are part of the High Court collegium, which, according to the association, has agreed in principle to appoint at least two Supreme Court lawyers as Jharkhand High Court judges. The association claims that this decision ignores its previous resolution opposing such appointments.
Boycott of Key Courtrooms Begins March 6
In an emergency meeting, the association resolved that its members would abstain from appearing in Court Nos. 1, 3, and 4, starting March 6, 2025. It also warned that lawyers who defy the boycott will have their membership revoked. However, the association clarified that it is not against appointing regular practitioners from the Jharkhand Bar as judges.
Delegation to Seek National-Level Intervention
The association has decided to send a delegation to New Delhi to meet the Chairman of the Bar Council of India, the Union Law Minister, the Chief Justice of India (CJI), and members of the Supreme Court collegium to present their case.
A follow-up meeting is scheduled for March 10, where the association will review the delegation’s progress and decide on the next course of action.
Past Opposition to ‘Outsider’ Judges
In January, the association had sent a letter to the Chief Justice, urging him not to recommend ‘outsider’ lawyers for elevation. Association President Ritu Kumar emphasized that judicial appointments should prioritize regular practitioners of the Jharkhand High Court who are also members of the Jharkhand State Bar Council.
Similar Conflict Under Ex-Chief Justice Virender Singh
Kumar also recalled a similar controversy in 2016 during the tenure of former Chief Justice Virender Singh. At that time, the Advocates Association strongly opposed Singh’s proposal to elevate non-members of the Jharkhand Bar, leading to a General Body Resolution on June 29, 2016, which remains binding on the current executive committee.
Judicial Vacancies and Unfilled Bar Quota Seats
Despite having several eligible candidates within the association, Kumar pointed out that no appointments from the Bar quota have been made in nearly eight years. Currently, the Jharkhand High Court has seven vacancies, with a sanctioned strength of 25 judges. Six of these vacancies are meant to be filled from the Bar.
