Movement Of Lawyers, Their Staff During Lockdown- “They May Apply For Passes Through Bar Associations”: State Tells MP High Court

The Madhya Pradesh High Court disposed of a plea seeking permission regarding the movement of the junior/associate advocates and regularly employed clerks with the advocate’s offices during COVID-19 Lockdown. The Bench of Chief Justice Mohammad Rafiq and Justice Atul Sreedharan ordered so noting the Government’s submission that concerned advocates, their associate advocates, and clerks may apply either online or offline, for necessary passes on the specified routes for visiting their office, through the Bar Association. Petitioner on Sunil Gupta, an elected member of the State Bar Council, Madhya Pradesh filed a writ petition praying for a direction to the respondents-authorities for modifying the orders issued under Section 144 of the Cr.P.C. for exempting and permitting the mobility and movement of the junior/associate advocates and regularly employed clerks with the advocate’s offices without any obstructions within the district limits of at least three districts of the State of Madhya Pradesh viz. Jabalpur, Indore and Gwalior.