Ludhiana: Legal proceedings at the district courts ground to a halt on Monday as advocates observed a total “no-work day,” leaving hundreds of litigants stranded and highlighting a growing rift between the legal fraternity and judicial administrative reforms.The strike, called by the District Bar Association (DBA), targeted two specific govt initiatives: the implementation of aggressive “Action Plans” for subordinate courts and the rollout of the Legal Aid Defence Counsel (LADC) system.
Speed Versus SustainabilityVipin Saggar, president of the Ludhiana DBA, has stated that while the judicial “Action Plan” aims to clear the massive backlog of pending cases, it places an “unsustainable” burden on practicing lawyers. “The action plan seeks to reduce the time duration for pending cases, but it puts immense pressure on advocates appearing in such matters,” Saggar said. Critics of the plan argue that rushing cases to meet administrative quotas may compromise the quality of legal representation.Public Defender Model OpposedThe Bar Association also voiced strong opposition to the Legal Aid Defence Counsel (LADC) system — a structure where the govt appoints full-time, salaried lawyers to defend those who cannot afford private counsel. The DBA argues this system marginalises private practitioners. Historically, legal aid cases were distributed among regular practitioners, providing a steady stream of work for junior and independent lawyers. Advocates claim that moving to a permanent, salaried model reduces opportunities for the wider legal community and creates a “closed loop” within the defense system.The Litigant’s CostWhile the legal halls were empty of advocates, they were filled with frustrated citizens who had travelled long distances. Mohan Singh of Malerkotla, seeking passport permission for a criminal matter, expressed dismay over the wasted travel costs. “Because of this ‘No Work Day’, not only was my time wasted, but also I had to spend significant money on travel for a hearing that never happened,” he said. Jagwinder Singh, a civil litigant from near Hambran, was forced to return home without his case being heard, adding yet another delay to an already lengthy civil process.Advocate Yogesh Khanna noted that the response to the strike was “complete”, with the vast majority of practitioners staying away from the court complex. However, for the anonymous litigants returning home empty-handed, the day represented a costly setback in their search for justice.
