'20 Courts Without Judges, One Lift For Seven Floors': Advocates' Association Bengaluru To Stage Protest Against Court Administration

Aggrieved by the 'intransigence' and 'overall cold response' meted out by the High Court administration and the Chief Justice to persistent demands made by members of the Bar, the Advocates' Association Bengaluru (AAB) has called for a Dharna before the High Court on July 16, 2026.

The grievances range from a crippling shortage of judges in nearly 20 Bengaluru Courts to the lack of basic infrastructure including elevators, forcing the old litigants and lawyers to climb seven stairs in the new annex building of the magistrate court.

The decision was taken during an emergent meeting of the Association's Governing Council on July 13, following what it termed as the administration's 'persistent failure' and inability to provide basic amenities across the courts in Bengaluru.

According to the letter, all advocates have been requested to assemble before the Golden Jubilee Gate of the Karnataka High Court on Thursday, July 16, at 11:30 AM to register their protest against the allegedly lackadaisical attitude of the High Court administration in addressing the grievances.

In the letter to its members, AAB highlighted that the Bangalore City Civil Courts are currently facing an unprecedented judicial crisis.

“…As many as 20 courts in Bangalore City Civil Courts are empty without Judges, resulting in delays for litigants. This situation is unprecedented”, the Association stated.

The Association also draws attention to the availability of a single functional elevator for all seven floors at the Magistrate Court's new annex, describing it as a 'pathetic condition' which has not been addressed yet.

The notice further emphasized that litigants before the High Court are also suffering, with significant delays and no dates in the posting of fresh matters.

The Association iterated that despite 'repeated reminders to the Registry and Chief Justice of Karnataka', no corrective measures have been taken.

The Association noted that its grievances regarding all court complexes in Bengaluru, including the City, Magistrate, High Court, and Mayo Hall units have been formally communicated through letters in April 2026 and several earlier correspondences, but none of those communications have elicited any positive responses.

The call to protest has been issued by AAB and signed by its functionaries including Vivek Subba Reddy (President), Girish Kumar C.S. (Vice President), and Shwetha Ravishankar (Treasurer) of the Advocates' Association, Bangalore.