With the imminent Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha ceremony set for Monday, January 22, numerous government and private entities have declared either full or half-day holidays. Bar associations are urging judicial forums to either suspend proceedings for the day or refrain from issuing adverse orders in light of lawyers’ and litigants’ potential non-appearance.
The High Court of Himachal Pradesh has officially declared a public holiday for both itself and the District Judiciary in the State on January 22.
Several tribunals have also announced holidays or partial working days in recognition of the consecration ceremony.
Earlier, the Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India had released a notification stating, “Due to overwhelming sentiment of the employees and request from them, Central Government announces half day closing till 2:30 pm on January 22. t all Central Government Offices, Central Institutions and Central Industrial Establishments throughout India on occassion of Ram Temple Pran Pratistha Ceremony.”
Considering the aforementioned DoPT notification, the National Company Law Tribunal declared on Friday that all 15 of its benches will observe a half-day closure until 2:30 PM on January 22nd, in light of the Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha ceremony in Ayodhya. The NCLT Registry is scheduled to resume operations from 3 PM, and the NCLT benches will address urgent matters from 3 PM to 4:30 PM.
The administrative section of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) will likewise be closed until 2:30 PM on January 22, in observance of the inauguration of the Ram Mandir.
The principal bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) will also be closed on January 22,while other benches of the CAT will observe a half-day holiday on that day.
The Punjab & Haryana High Court Bar Association yesterday announced work suspension on January 22.
The New Delhi Bar Association, in a letter to the Principal District and Sessions Judge of the Patiala House Court, requested judicial officers not to issue adverse orders due to the absence of advocates and litigants on January 22.
