Phagwara Bar Association Continues Strike Against LADC Policy; Court Work Remains Paralysed

Ashok Kaura

Jul 20, 2026 - 19:16

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PHAGWARA: The strike launched by the Phagwara Bar Association against the Legal Aid Defence Counsel (LADC) Policy entered its 14th day on Monday, with lawyers continuing to abstain from court proceedings in protest. The ongoing agitation, which began on July 7, has significantly disrupted the normal functioning of the court complex as advocates stayed away from judicial work.

Addressing the media, Bar Association President Advocate Ravinder Sharma (Neeta) and Vice-President Advocate Rohit Sharma said the LADC Policy was detrimental to the interests of the legal fraternity and would adversely affect the traditional legal practice system. They demanded the immediate withdrawal of the policy, maintaining that the legal community would continue its struggle until their concerns were addressed.

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The office-bearers said the Phagwara Bar Association was participating in the agitation in complete solidarity with bar associations across Punjab and Haryana, in line with their collective decision. They warned that if no positive response was received by Tuesday evening from the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) or the four-member committee of judges constituted by the Punjab and Haryana High Court under the leadership of Justice Vinod Bhardwaj, the agitation would be further intensified with the support of bar associations from both states.

Vice-President Advocate Rohit Sharma said the legal fraternity had been raising concerns over the issue for a long time and alleged that repeated assurances regarding amendments to the policy had not been fulfilled. As a result, lawyers had once again been compelled to launch a united protest to safeguard their professional interests.

The advocates reiterated that they would remain united and continue their agitation until the LADC Policy is suitably amended or withdrawn. Among those present during the protest were Advocates Sanjeev Agnihotri, Harpreet Kaur, Sukhwinder Singh, Inderjit Singh, Sanjeev Dussanjh, Vishal Kaul, Rajeev Sharma, Kuldeep Kumar, Lakhwinder Singh, Rimpy Gill, Reena Rani, Jarnail Singh Dhindsa, Jatinder Thakur, Joginder Singh Kanth, Renu Kumari and Dhandeep Kaur, besides several other members of the Bar.