Lawyers Protest Power Cuts with 'No Work Day'
The District Bar Association (DBA) in Jalandhar observed a 'No work day' on Saturday to protest against the government and Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) over the mismanagement of the power crisis in the state. The decision was taken unanimously during an executive committee meeting chaired by DBA president Aditya Jain and secretary Rohit Gambhir.
Prolonged Outages Disrupt Legal Work
Jain stated that court proceedings resumed on July 1 after summer vacation, but advocates' chambers in the judicial complex have since been plagued by frequent and prolonged power outages. Lawyers were unable to work due to electricity cuts lasting several hours, disrupting court-related activities and causing significant inconvenience to both advocates and litigants.
Despite repeated attempts to contact officials and the electricity department's complaint helpline, either phones were switched off or calls went unanswered, according to Jain.
Demand for Uninterrupted Power Supply
The DBA demanded an immediate restoration of regular and uninterrupted power supply in the judicial complex. Jain warned that if the issue is not resolved promptly, the association would be compelled to launch a protest. The meeting was attended by DBA secretary Rohit Gambhir, senior vice-president Ram Chhabra, joint secretary Sahil Malhotra, junior vice-president Suraj Pratap Singh, and others.
Statewide Strike Called for Monday
In a related development, Gambhir announced that lawyers across Punjab will remain on strike on Monday, following a call by bar associations throughout the state. The strike is in support of the Bholath Bar Association and the Kapurthala Bar Association. Starting Tuesday, an indefinite strike will begin against the Legal Aid Defence Counsel System, as per the decision of the Joint Action Committee, Punjab.
