R.S. PURA (Jammu): Lawyers in R.S. Pura continued their strike for the third consecutive day on Wednesday, pressing their demand for the establishment of a Sessions Court in the area under the presidency of Bar Association president Advocate Deepak Sharma.
The protest comes despite a High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh notification, issued by Registrar General Shahzad Azeem on April 7, 2025, that had directed the 2nd Additional District & Sessions Judge, Jammu, to hold sittings for three days a week (Thursday, Friday and Saturday) at the Tehsil Headquarters in R.S. Pura, to deal with cases originating from Tehsil R.S. Pura and Tehsil Bishnah.
The order was framed as an interim measure pending the formal creation of a dedicated Additional District and Sessions Judge court for the R.S. Pura Tehsil Headquarters.
Advocate Sharma told reporters that despite the High Court's clear directive, the order was being ignored by the concerned authorities, forcing the legal fraternity to take to the streets. "We are sitting in protest inside the court premises to ensure that this legitimate demand is fulfilled," he said.
Protesting lawyers R.S. Chib, Somnath Sharma, Dheeraj Bismal and Sanjeev Raja Thakyal also spoke at the demonstration, highlighting the hardship caused by the absence of Session Court facilities in the area. "Due to the lack of a Session Court here, people from this region are compelled to travel all the way to Jammu to seek justice," they said.
The lawyers said they have made several representations to the authorities in the last one year but there has been no response.
The High Court notification, issued in exercise of powers under Section 22 and 26 of the Civil Courts Act, 1977 and Section 8(6) and 12 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, had aimed at bringing justice closer to citizens' doorsteps across multiple areas of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, including Sumbal in Bandipora, Mendhar in Poonch, and several other sub-divisions.
Lawyers say they will continue their agitation until the administration acts on the High Court's order and makes the R.S. Pura court sittings operational.
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