New Delhi: The Shahdara bar association boycott of Karkardooma judges has sparked attention in Delhi’s judiciary community after the lawyers’ body asked its members not to appear before two judges posted at Karkardooma Courts. The association cited repeated complaints of alleged discourteous and disrespectful behaviour toward advocates. The matter is based on an official resolution passed by the Shahdara Bar Association and statements made by the association.
Shahdara Bar Association Announces Karkardooma Judges Boycott
The Shahdara Bar Association has urged all its member advocates to boycott the courts of two judicial officers at Karkardooma Courts, Delhi. The association requested lawyers not to appear before the concerned courts either physically or through video conferencing (VC) until further notice. The decision was announced through a formal resolution passed by the association’s Executive Committee.
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Karkardooma Judges Boycott: Which Judges Are Named
According to the resolution, the boycott concerns:
- Sh. S.S. Rathi, Principal Judge, Family Court, East District, Karkardooma Courts.
- Ms. Ritika Kansal, Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC), Mahila Courts, East District, Karkardooma Courts.
The association said the decision followed complaints received against both judicial officers.
Why Did the Bar Association Call for a Karkardooma Judges Boycott
The Executive Committee stated that it had received regular complaints from advocates. According to the association, these complaints relate to alleged:
- Discourteous behaviour.
- Humiliating treatment.
- Disrespectful conduct toward lawyers appearing before the courts.
The association said it took the decision to protect the dignity of the legal profession.
Allegation Against One Judge
The Shahdara Bar Association also alleged that Judge S.S. Rathi referred to a senior member of the association as a “dalaal” (broker) during court proceedings. This allegation has been made by the Bar Association. There has been no judicial finding or official confirmation regarding the allegation at this stage.
Association Says Earlier Complaints Brought No Action
The Bar Association claimed that it had earlier informed the Principal District Judge about the alleged conduct of the two judicial officers. However, according to the association, no action had been taken despite those complaints.
Karkardooma Judges Boycott: Bar Association’s Stand
In its resolution, the association said that the relationship between the Bench and the Bar should be based on:
- Mutual respect.
- Professional dignity.
- Courtesy.
- Fairness.
- Cooperation.
It added that while advocates are expected to maintain high professional standards, judicial officers are also expected to treat lawyers with patience, courtesy and respect.
No Response From the Judges Yet
At the time of publication, there was no public response from either of the two judicial officers regarding the allegations mentioned in the Bar Association’s resolution. If an official response or clarification is issued later, it may provide additional context to the matter.
