The Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has recently taken action against three lawyers by issuing show cause notices to them. These notices were issued in response to their alleged making of derogatory and scandalous comments about the judiciary during a media interview. The comments were related to the Bar's opposition to moving the Jammu bench from its current location in Janipur to Raika.

The Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud laid the foundation for the new high court complex at Raika in Jammu on June 28.

The Chief Justice's Secretariat has requested the three advocates, Arvind Bhandral, Umesh Sharma, and Bhavishya Sudan, to provide an explanation by October 25. The notice to these lawyers was issued on October 17 by MK Sharma, who serves as the Principal Secretary to Chief Justice N. Kotiswar Singh.

As per the show cause notice issued to one of the lawyers, it states that certain members of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association in Jammu are against the relocation of the High Court from Janipur to Raipur. The notice also mentions that the lawyer is alleged to have made statements that could be considered as scandalous and damaging to the reputation of the judiciary.

The notice states that before any further action is taken in this matter, the individuals are required to provide a written explanation of their position on or before October 25, 2023.

Lawyers in Jammu have strongly opposed the relocation of the High Court, and this issue has stirred significant controversy. Additionally, environmental activists have also expressed their disapproval of the move, claiming that the project will lead to the cutting down of approximately 38,000 trees.

According to the available information, the project is anticipated to be finished within a year and a half. It has secured a 'No Objection Certificate' (NOC) from the department of wildlife and forests, and the National Green Tribunal has issued rulings in favor of the project.

However, Jammu-based lawyers are concerned that this move will significantly impact their work, particularly those lawyers who have established their practices in Janipur for the past 30-40 years.

The Jammu bench of the High Court was initially situated in the Mubarak Mandi complex in Jammu until the 1990s. In 1994, it was relocated to Janipur. Apart from the High Court, the Janipur premises also house the district court complex, the Advocate General's office, and the Judicial Academy. This provides additional context regarding the historical location and changes in the Jammu bench of the High Court.