lawyers strike Continued

Jammu and Kashmir government does not appear to be serious in bringing to an end the continued strike of Jammu Bar Association which has been protesting against transfer of registration work from judiciary to revenue department. The strike has been continuing for the past more than a week now with no end in sight. The issue of enhancement of quota for practicing lawyers for recruitment in judicial services has been resolved through negotiations with the bar association with the initiative from the Chief Justice of J&K high court last week. The strike has adversely affected with working in the court and litigants have to suffer for no fault of theirs. This is also leading to piling up of cases adding to higher pendency of cases in the courts. Already the work has suffered a lot due to strike and the litigants had to go back disappointed from the court and hearings and decisions of the courts in various cases have been postponed. The pendency of cases is already staggering high and the estimates of the presiding officer suggest that this can be reduced with quick adjudication of cases in the next five years or so. The government should step in and resolve the issue through negotiations so that normal working in the judiciary is restored at the earliest. This is particularly required in view of the fact that it is ultimately the common man, who is at the receiving end due to prolonged strike. The litigants have been travelling from their homes in other towns to the courts and high courts with the hope of getting justice and early disposal of their cases. Resolution of the strike is the only way to reduce pendency of cases in courts.