[Lawyers Strike] Enormous damage caused to society if courts do not function: Karnataka High Court

If courts do not function due to strike by lawyers, it will affect litigants the most and significantly impact society, the Karnataka High Court observed while hearing a criminal contempt petition registered against lawyers for boycotting Court work..A Division bench headed by Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka said the Bar has a duty to ensure that functioning of courts is not affected. ."While everyone will appreciate members being proactive, it is their duty to ensure that functioning of Court is not affected. If the functioning of the Court is affected, then common man suffers," the order passed by the Court said..The Court added that it is with great difficulty that functioning of Court is being conducted amid Covid-19."Are you willing to follow the law laid down by the Supreme Court and give undertaking? Supreme Court does not permit this (lawyers boycotting Court work)," the Bench remarked..Pertinently, the Court mentioned that it was the litigants who will suffer if Courts do not function.."Litigants will suffer. We are all here for the sake of litigants. How much money is spent on one day of Court's working? It is the common man's money," it stated..The Court further opined that the matter would come to an end if an undertaking is provided..At this juncture, the advocate appearing for the accused opined that lawyers were protesting because of the recent incident in Mandya where a lawyer was murdered in court premises.."Please protest if FIR is not registered. Writ Court will see to it. But this is not the way. We don't want to go against the members of the Bar but enormous damage caused to society," the Court replied..The Court also clarified that the purpose of this contempt petition was not to have any lawyer behind bars but only to secure the cooperation of lawyers..The Advocate General was also of the opinion that a lenient view should be taken if the advocates express regret and give undertaking..The Court, therefore, asked the advocate appearing for the accused persons to place on record an affidavit stating that it will abide by the law laid down by the Supreme Court and tender unconditional apology..The matter will be next heard on April 22.