Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju condemns Allahabad HC Bar Association Elders Committee's allegations, clarifies Govt's stand on HC Bench in Agra

Union Law and Justice Minister Kiren Rijiju has strongly condemned the statement of Allahabad High Court Bar Association Elders Committee wherein Union Minister's 'alleged' remarks regarding High Court's bench in Agra have been called 'childish' and 'politically motivated'.

The Union Minister has clarified that when a representation was submitted to him at Agra, he only said that Government will look into the memorandum. "I've never made a statement on the subject of HC Bench," the minister has said. 

As per media reports, the Union Minister had made a statement regarding the creation of Bench of Allahabad High Court at Agra while he was there to participate in a sports event on November 21. 

It has been reported that the Union Minister had said that the report of 'Judge Jaswant Singh Commission' is available with the Law Ministry and the Central Government is considering. It has also been claimed that if everything goes well, then the establishment of the Agra Bench will be approved soon.

In response to Union Minister's this alleged comment, the Allahabad High Court Bar Association Elders' Committee released a statement on November 23, 2021, which reads, 

"The Union Law Minister is supposed to know that without the concurrence of Chief Justice of High Court, Allahabad, no such proposal can be aired. The person who is holding the post of Law Minister, is supposed to know this much of legal position."

It adds, "From the day one, it has been the consistent stand and opinion of the Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court that creation of bench as for as U.P. is concern, is not required as there is already a bench at Lucknow. Especially when after the bifurcation of Hill Area from State of U.P. by creating a High Court in State of Uttaranchal. Decentralization of judiciary has resulted in eruption of corruption especially at State and Central level."

The committee had even alleged that as and when the General Elections fall due, such misleading statements are being issued by politicians at the helm of affairs which is nothing but a political stunt to gain undue advantage of voters from a particular district.

The committee also called Union Minister's alleged comments as an attempt to create difference between the Bar of Agra & Meerut district, who have been fighting for long for creation of bench at Meerut.

Union Minister's condemnation statement came late night on 23rd itself as a tweet refuting Committee's allegations against him. 

Also, Oudh Bar Association of Lucknow Bench of the High Court has also released a statement on November 22, 2021 wherein it is stated that in reference to Union Minister's statement as reported by Media, association's executive committee has passed a resolution to back the move of the Government of India for considering the reallocation of districts for existing two benches of the High Court.

The Bar Association has said that the Jaswant Singh Commission had recommended for inclusion of divisions of Bareilly and Moradabad within the territorial jurisdiction of Allahabad High Court at Lucknow and their demand of inclusion of areas of Kanpur, Basti, Azamgarh and Gorakhpur Division is also logical.

Demands of benches of the Allahabad High Court in the western part of the State have been aired since long by lawyers from Uttar Pradesh West. For that purpose, the lawyers of various bar associations came together and formed a committee namely 'High Court Establishment Sangharsh Samiti' to spearhead the campaign for the formation of a new bench in the western part of the state.

However, lawyers from Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court have opposed the creation of a new bench fearing loss of clientele.