On Friday, the Supreme Court prohibited bar associations in Uttar Pradesh from organizing strikes or abstaining from judicial work on court working days. The directive was issued during the hearing of a case related to the strikes by the Faizabad District Bar Association.

A bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan stated that if such actions take place, the High Court may initiate suo motu proceedings against the responsible office bearers of the bar body and may even remove them from their positions.

“Bar association shall not pass any resolution to abstain from work on court working days. In case it happens, High Court can take suo motu action against the office bearers. The action may also include removal of office bearers as penal action,” the Court said.

The COurt mentioned that this order would apply to all district bar associations in Uttar Pradesh. Additionally, it directed the formation of a three-judge High Court committee to monitor instances of strikes by lawyers.

The Court emphasized that any such actions must result in penalties for the office bearers, stressing that there would be no leniency or soft approach in this regard.

The Court was hearing the bar association's appeal against an August 8 decision by the Allahabad High Court, which had established a committee to oversee the association’s affairs, ensuring that elections to its Governing Council are held by December 2024. 

In today's proceedings, the Court praised the committee for successfully conducting peaceful elections to select the office bearers of the Faizabad Bar Association. The decision on whether the committee should continue for another two years was left to the discretion of the High Court.