Lawyers want more judges in HC, threaten strike

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court Advocates’ Association has threatened to go on an indefinite strike from Thursday over the issue of nonappointment of judges in the high court. The association has also requested all Bar associations across the state to join the strike.

After targeting Union law minister M Veerappa Moily, the association has now blamed the President of India for causing the delay by not signing the files for appointment of judges for a long time. Twenty-one months have passed since the first proposal was forwarded to the constitutional authorities, but no appointment has been made yet, said a note from the Bar president, advocate Yatin Oza.

The high court has only half the number of judges at present as compared to the total sanctioned strength. The association has urged President Pratibha Patil to clear the files urgently, but has simultaneously accused her of delaying the process under pressure from the Centre, which is prejudiced against Gujarat.