Avinash Azad
The Jammu awaited announcement regarding ‘disputed’ shifting of High Court, Complex made yesterday by none other than the President of BAJ, Advocate Vikram Sharma through a press statement in which it has been claimed that the HC Complex would not be shifted to Raika Hills. The statement apart from the agitating lawyers would be a major relief to the environmentalist activists against the felling thousands of tree spread over 150 acres proposed site for new High Court Complex and residents quarters in the area.
“The J&K High Court Bar Association, Jammu convened a General House Meeting of its members in terms of two requisitions it had received with respect to (a) Opposing of shifting of High Court and (b) For shifting of District Court and other forums alongwith High Court to Raika”, officials communique no, JKHCBAJ/23/2541/ dated 20/07/2023 reads.
The communique further reads, “The members expressed their views about the agenda items and threadbare discussions spanning approximately four hours took place with members opposing and favoring the shifting of High Court respectively. The members who opposed the shifting of the High Court included, M.K. Bhardwaj, Senior Advocate & Former President JKHCBAJ, Abhinav Sharma, Senior Advocate & Former President JKHCBAJ, J.A Kazmi Advocate, Nirmal Kotwal Advocate, M.R. Qureshi Advocate, H.C. Jalmeria Advocate, Usman Salaria Advocate & Former Vice President JKHCBAJ, Bhavishya Sudan Advocate, S. Baldev Singh (Jr) Advocate, Arvind Bandral Advocate, Anna Durrans Advocate, Zamir Muslim Qureshi Advocate, Shrishti Paul Mengi Advocate, Yasser Farooq Khan Advocate & General Secretary VLA.”
“Other who expressed their views are M.A. Goni Senior Advocate, Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed Advocate, Atul Raina Advocate, Mehrukh Sayden Advocate, Ishant Gupta Advocate. M.A. Goni Senior Advocate suggested for Constitution of a Committee of both senior and junior lawyers to decide future course of action in terms of decision, the General House would take”, the press communique further added.
“Three resolutions which were passed by voice-votes by the General House are as under. It was resolved that the shifting of High Court to Raika shall be opposed. General House authorized the Office bearers to formulate a Committee of Advocates who will submit their report within seven days recommending further course of action to the General House to be convened again. The General House with one voice condemned derogatory messages on social media / Whatsapp Groups against the members of the liar including the Senior Advocates”, the BAJ president said in the statement.
Meanwhile, Amol Ohri, an environmentalist has welcomed the decision taken General House Meeting of Bar Association Jammu. “We are fighting the cause of environment in Jammu, deforestation of Rakia was disastrous step, it would have been spoil everything, if the lawyer fraternity of not objected government’s decision”, he said, adding not only their organisation Jammu Climate Front is also fighting for clean Tawi, a lifeline of Jammu and other environment related issues.
