Advocates of Allahabad High Court to Discontinue Use of "My Lord" or "Your Lordship" for the Judges.

The Allahabad High Court Bar Association (HCBA) has made a significant decision urging its members to refrain from addressing judges as "My Lord" or "Your Lordship." Instead, they recommend using respectful alternatives such as "Sir," or "Your Honour,". This move comes after concerns were raised about judges considering themselves superior, which the HCBA aims to rectify. The association emphasizes that the High Court is a court of justice, and judges, as public servants, are paid from the public exchequer. They encourage advocates across Bar Associations to adopt these respectful pronouns, reinforcing the notion that judges are not deities.

Additionally, the HCBA has expressed dissatisfaction with the High Court Administration's handling of issues affecting advocates. In response, they have decided to abstain from judicial work for three days (July 10, 11, and 12, 2024). Advocates who disregard this decision will face membership termination, losing benefits and being blacklisted from future membership. This decision underscores the association's unwavering commitment to addressing advocate-related issues. The HCBA extends its gratitude to all advocates supporting this movement for positive change within the legal profession.

The Executive of the High Court Bar Association, Allahabad, convened today at 12:00 noon in the new office bearers' room. The meeting, chaired by Hon'ble President and Senior Advocate Shri Anil Tiwari and supervised by General Secretary Shri Vikrant Pandey, resulted in several important resolutions aimed at enhancing the professional environment for advocates.

A significant decision was made to discontinue the use of "My Lord" or "Your Lordship" when addressing judges. This aligns with a statement from the Hon'ble Chief Justice of India, emphasizing that judges should not consider themselves as superior. To address the rising incidents of misbehavior towards advocates, the association will also reach out to other Bar Associations across the state.

Bar Association's Press Release 

In a stern move, the association decided that advocates who fail to respond to show cause notices will face membership termination. These members will lose access to benefits such as medical assistance, deceased dependent assistance, and priority in chamber allotment. Furthermore, they will be blacklisted and barred from future membership in the High Court Bar Association. The membership of advocates who argued cases via video conferencing or in person during the ongoing agitation will also be terminated immediately.

Given the current circumstances, the Executive unanimously decided to abstain from judicial work on July 12, 2024. This decision highlights the association's dedication to addressing the issues faced by advocates.

The meeting saw the attendance of several prominent members, including Mr. Rajesh Khare (Senior Vice President), Agnihotri Kumar Tripathi, Akhilesh Kumar Mishra, Subhash Chandra Yadav, Neeraj Tripathi, Neelam Shukla (Vice Presidents), Sumit Kumar Srivastava (Joint Secretary Administration), Abhijeet Kumar Pandey (Joint Secretary Library), Puneet Kumar Shukla (Joint Secretary Press), Aanchal Ojha (Joint Secretary Women), Ran Vijay Singh (Treasurer), Udisha Tripathi, Awadhesh Kumar Mishra, Abhishek Tiwari, Sachchidanand Yadav, Dinesh Yadav, Rajesh Shukla, Sarveshwar Lal Srivastava, Ved Prakash Ojha, Baldev Shukla, and Brajesh Kumar Singh 'Sengar' (Executive Members).

The Executive Council Meeting also expressed its gratitude to all advocates who have supported the movement for the benefit of the legal community. Their solidarity and commitment are pivotal in driving positive change within the profession.