Lawyers across Jharkhand to boycott judicial work on July 25 to protest court fee hike

Lawyers across Jharkhand have decided to stay away from judicial work on July 25 in protest against the decision to increase the court fee. Jharkhand State Bar Council (JSBC) has directed district bar associations of all 24 districts to observe protests against the decision. They will also wear a black badge on their right hand.

The government notified court fee hike in the gazette on February 25, 2022. JSBC had criticized the hike and said that such a massive increase in the fee will prevent the poor from getting justice. JSBC secretary Rajesh Pandey said that such a multifold increase has made justice expensive and it would be beyond the reach of common people. He said that such a hike would create anarchy.

JSBC also wrote a letter to Jharkhand Chief Secretary to consider the demand for the rollback of the court fee. Referring to the vision of Mahatma Gandhi said that justice should reach the last person in society. It further said that if the government does not reconsider the demand advocates across the state will be forced to agitate.

Earlier, like other districts, Ranchi District Bar Association also decided to protest the increase in court fees. Ranchi District Bar Association has said that on July 25 that lawyers will hit the road from the Civil Court to Albert Ekka Chowk for a peaceful protest.

Explaining the financial burden that people will have to face, Ranchi civil court lawyer Sanjay Bidrohi said that the cost has become just double. “Suppose there is a dispute valued Rs one Crore. The concerned petitioner had to deposit Rs 50000 as a court fee. But now the petitioner will have to pay Rs three lakh. Similarly, earlier the client had to pay Rs five per page of the certified copy. But now it has just been doubled,” he said.