Punjab & Haryana HC Directs Petitioners to Approach State Bar Council on Five-Day Work Week Issue

The Punjab & Haryana High Court directed petitioners to approach the State Bar Council regarding a resolution by the District Bar Association, which set a five-day work week and made Saturdays a no-work day.

The petitioners argued that this violates a Supreme Court ruling in District Bar Association Dehradun v. Ishwar Shandilya & others, stating that boycotting courts by advocates was illegal and going on strike was also not protected under Article 19(1)(a).

The bench, without entering into the merits of the petition, granted petitioners 30 days to file representation with the Bar Council, which must decide the matter within 60 days.