A PUBLIC Interest Litigation (PIL) for preventing advocates from appearing before such judges with whom they (lawyers) had been connected or associated in any manner, either before or after their (judges') elevation, came up for hearing before the Lucknow bench of the High Court here on Wednesday.
The bench, comprising Justice Jagdish Bhalla and Justice Dharamveer Sharma, directed the PIL to be listed for hearing on Friday.
The Public Interest Litigation was filed by local advocate Hari Shanker Jain in which the Bar Councils of India and Uttar Pradesh, as well as the registrar generals of the Allahabad High Court, including its Lucknow bench, have been arrayed as respondents.
According to the petitioner, if such practice was not nipped in the bud, confidence of the public in judicial system may be shattered and lead to suspicion of corruption having crept in.
The apex court had also held that the function of judges was divine and it was the duty of the judiciary to ensure that the public at large did not lose faith in the justice delivery system, it was said.
An interim relief, directing respondents to prepare a list of such advocates who could not appear before the judges, being connected or associated with them (judges) either before or after their elevation, has also been prayed for. It was also urged that the respondents were not acting in accordance with the law and had not taken any steps to prevent the appearance of lawyers before the judges with whom they are or have been associated in any manner.
{{/usCountry}}An interim relief, directing respondents to prepare a list of such advocates who could not appear before the judges, being connected or associated with them (judges) either before or after their elevation, has also been prayed for. It was also urged that the respondents were not acting in accordance with the law and had not taken any steps to prevent the appearance of lawyers before the judges with whom they are or have been associated in any manner.
{{/usCountry}}The matter shall come up for hearing on January 27.