March for Justice by Gujarat lawyers from Gandhi Ashram to Gujarat High Court to protest vacancies

The Gujarat High Court Advocates Association (GHCAA) has resolved to hold a March for Justice and go on leave on April 13 to protest vacancies in Gujarat High Court..As per the resolution passed in a General Body Meeting of GHCAA held on April 6,.“…on 13th April, 2018, the members of the Association will take out a March for Justice at 6:00 AM from Gandhi Ashram either in their own vehicles or will join the march either on foot or bicycle and reach High Court by 9:00 AM. .The members, thereafter will stay away from work by filing mass leave notes or by voluntary abstention from work for the vindication of the fundamental rights of the people of Gujarat and to enforce their right to speedy justice.”.The Gujarat High Court has 23 vacancies while its sanctioned strength is 52..Interestingly, the meeting of the GHCAA in April 6 also had in its agenda “non-appointment of judge of Gujarat High Court as Chief justice and non-elevation of any judge of Gujarat High Court as Supreme Court judge or as Chief Justice of any High Court.”.However, discussion on the same was deferred “until a deserving High Court judge comes into the zone of consideration for his elevation as Chief Justice or Supreme Court judge.”.Bar & Bench spoke to GHCAA President Asim Pandya who said,.“Because of non-appointment of judges, people of Gujarat are suffering. Every day more than 200 matters are being listed before a judge. Any judge can conduct maximum of 50 to 60 cases per day during the 300 minutes of court time. .In this background, I had written a letter to the Chief Justice and the Collegium last year for speeding up appointments. Despite that letter, no progress has been made.”.Regarding the mood of the Bench as regards the issue, Pandya said,.“Judges do not react openly. However, they may also be happy that there is some initiative to appoint more judges so that their burden is reduced. Right now, every lawyer is raising the issue that her matter is not being heard or listed and judges have to deal with such requests. So, it is my belief that judges might not be against us.”.Gujarat would be the fourth High Court where protests are happening due to failure to fill up vacancies. Lawyers in Karnataka, Odisha and Calcutta had resorted to strike to protest burgeoning vacancies in respective High Courts..Read the resolution below. .Read the letter by Asim Pandya to Chief Justice of India.