Tensions have intensified between advocates and the district judiciary at the Gandhinagar District Court, with lawyers launching a protest over several long-pending demands. More than 700 advocates, under the banner of the Gandhinagar Bar Association, boycotted court proceedings, disrupting judicial work and affecting the functioning of the court.
As part of the agitation, protesting lawyers also restricted the entry of litigants into the court premises, causing inconvenience to numerous people who had arrived for hearings and other legal proceedings.
According to the advocates, dissatisfaction with the administrative functioning of the current District Judge is one of the key reasons behind the protest. Lawyers allege that they are often subjected to unnecessary scrutiny over minor procedural lapses and that substantial penalties are imposed even for small mistakes during court proceedings.
Another major issue raised by the Bar Association concerns the language used during court hearings. Advocates claim that the District Judge, who is not from Gujarat, prefers proceedings to be conducted in Hindi. Lawyers who have traditionally argued cases in Gujarati say this has created difficulties in presenting complex legal submissions and has adversely affected their work. The association has therefore demanded the judge’s transfer.
The protest has also brought attention to infrastructure shortcomings in the newly constructed court complex. Despite having nearly 1,500 to 2,000 practicing advocates in Gandhinagar, lawyers allege that adequate seating and workspace have not been provided. They are demanding proper allocation of tables and seating arrangements as originally planned.
Advocates said they had submitted multiple written representations regarding these issues, but no concrete action was taken by the authorities. Frustrated by the lack of response, members of the Bar Association began an indefinite sit-in outside the court complex earlier this week and set up a protest camp.
On the fourth day of the agitation, lawyers intensified their protest by raising slogans and staging demonstrations, while Bar Association offices and workspaces remained largely deserted due to the boycott. Protest leaders have warned that the agitation will continue until their demands, including improved facilities and the transfer of the District Judge, are addressed.