In protest of the proposed relocation of Justice Sandeep N. Bhatt from the Gujarat high court to Madhya Pradesh, the Gujarat High Court Advocates’ Association (GHCAA) continued to abstain from work on Saturday.
At its extraordinary general body meeting on Tuesday afternoon, the association opted not to work in response to the Supreme Court collegium’s decision to transfer 14 high court judges, including Justice Bhatt. A committee was also established by the group to petition the Supreme Court to withdraw the proposition.
In this regard, an association team met with Chief Justice of India BR Gavai on Thursday, according to lawyer BM Mangukiya, but no decision was made right away. We informed the CJI that we are unsure of the reason behind the transfer of a judge who is honest, straightforward, and uncompromising. Since the collegium operates openly, we are entitled to know the reason behind the judge’s transfer.
Mangukiya, a committee member, stated, “We also informed the chief justice that we have serious concerns that the correct facts are not being presented to the collegium.” Mangukiya claimed that the high court’s lawyers’ four-day strike was the longest in decades, with the previous one lasting six weeks in 1983.
“There hasn’t been any strike since then,” he stated. Brijesh Trivedi, president of the GHCAA, claimed they were asked to provide more copies of their representation after being heard “very patiently.”
According to Trivedi, the group received assurances that the Chief Justice of India and the members of the collegium will examine their thorough submission.Trivedi stated that the association would continue to refrain from work for the time being.