The Supreme Court has directed high courts across the country to establish grievance redressal committees at various levels to resolve tensions between the Bar and the Bench.
The move comes after a controversy in the Andhra Pradesh high court involving a young lawyer, which sparked outrage in legal circles.
A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi passed the direction while closing suo motu proceedings initiated over the incident.
The court emphasized the need for institutional mechanisms to address issues arising between judges and lawyers in a timely and cordial manner.
It also underlined that judges must display patience, compassion, and a spirit of encouragement, particularly towards young lawyers.
The apex court noted that the exchange between the judge and the young lawyer was 'de-contextualized' and that the oral observations were never incorporated into the judicial order.
The Andhra Pradesh high court has since constituted a five-judge committee to maintain cordial Bar-Bench relations and set up a separate grievance redressal mechanism.
