Punjab & Haryana HC imposes Rs 1000 cost on lawyer for abstaining from work

Read Order: BALJIT SINGH VS STATE OF PUNJAB 

LE Staff

Chandigarh, August 26, 2021: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has dismissed an application for early hearing and imposed a cost of Rs 1,000 on a lawyer, as he abstained from work on August 11, 2021.

“Despite the fact that the Courts are working through virtual mode with great difficulties having lots of connectivity issues, the lawyers resorted to abstain from work on 11.08.2021,” said the single Bench of Justice Arvind Singh Sangwan.

The prayer in this application was made for preponing the date of the main case which has been fixed for October 28, 2021.

The case was last listed on August 11, 2021, when the lawyers had volunteered to abstain from work.

The Bench clarified that despite the fact that the Courts have been working through virtual mode with great difficulties as there are lots of connectivity issues, the lawyers still resorted to abstain from work on August 11,2021.

Hence, finding no ground for early hearing, the present application has been dismissed with cost of Rs. 1,000. The High Court has also held that the aforesaid cost will have to be deposited with the High Court Legal Services Authority within a period of 15 days.

However, the Bench also stated that after depositing the cost, it will be open for the petitioner to recover the same from the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association, Chandigarh and in case the amount is not paid to him, he can claim/adjust the same against his subscription fee/membership fee.