Vasai Lawyers To Launch Satyagraha From July 5 Over Crippling Court Delays
Lawyers in Vasai have announced a "Savinay Satyagraha" civil disobedience campaign starting July 5 to protest crippling judicial delays and administrative failures in the local courts. The Bar Association of Vasai and the Vasai Advocates' Association announced the joint movement after their repeated representations to judicial authorities, including the Principal District Judge in Thane, were ignored.
According to the associations, prolonged delays in the justice delivery system have eroded public confidence, frustrated litigants, and hindered the careers of young advocates. The lawyers pointed out that litigants often blame their lawyers and change representation due to the slow pace, while young lawyers struggle to build their practices.
To highlight the severity of the crisis, the associations cited a civil suit instituted in 1985 that was only resolved in May this year, marking a 41-year delay. They argued that when a trial takes four decades, securing final relief after subsequent appeals becomes nearly impossible.
The decision to launch the campaign follows a six-month review of court operations by the associations. The review identified several key causes for the mounting backlog, including an acute shortage of bailiffs to serve summons, poor case management leading to overcrowded cause lists, the frequent loss of court records, and a failure to update the e-Courts portal.
Additionally, the lawyers highlighted significant delays in recording Section 164 statements in criminal matters, as well as prolonged pendency for bail applications, interim injunctions, and maintenance in domestic violence cases. They also cited delayed certified copies of judgments and irregular remand scheduling.
The associations also raised concerns over the treatment of lawyers, claiming that certain judicial officers have subjected advocates to humiliating treatment and inappropriate conduct.
Before announcing the protest, the associations submitted detailed representations to the Bombay High Court, the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa, and the Principal District Judge, Thane, in February, April, May, and June. After receiving no response, the lawyers decided to launch the peaceful campaign, inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of Satyagraha and B.R. Ambedkar's constitutional ideals.
