Nagpur: In a sudden and unexpected development, the Principal District Judge, Nagpur, on Monday ordered the barricading of all parking spaces inside the District Court premises that were being used by advocates, triggering strong resentment among members of the legal fraternity. The move was reportedly taken without any prior notice or consultation with the Bar, leading to protests by practicing lawyers.

Soon after the barricades were installed, advocates objected to the decision and submitted representations before the Principal District Judge, demanding an immediate rollback of the order. The issue was raised in the presence of several senior and practicing advocates, including Advocate Asif Qureshi, Advocate Prakash Jaiswal, Advocate Parijat Pandey, Advocate Anil Gaurdeep, Advocate Ashish Kataria, Advocate Adil Mohammad, Advocate Nitish Samudri, Advocate Adil Sheikh, Advocate Jitendra and Advocate Prem Ramtek, along with many others.

Following the intervention of a Judge of the Bombay High Court, Nagpur Bench, it was decided that the matter would be discussed at a higher level. A meeting is now proposed to be convened in the presence of the Hon’ble Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court to deliberate on the issue and arrive at an amicable and permanent solution.

Pending the outcome of the proposed meeting, directions were issued to the Principal District Judge, Nagpur, to remove all barricades from the parking areas within the court premises and restore the existing parking facilities for advocates.

Members of the Bar have expressed hope that the forthcoming meeting will result in a practical resolution and ensure that essential facilities for advocates are not restricted without dialogue, transparency, or due process.