Bengaluru: The Advocates’ Association Bengaluru (AAB) has postponed its proposed dharna against the Karnataka High Court administration over judicial vacancies and inadequate court infrastructure. The protest, originally scheduled for July 16, has been deferred to July 22 following the demise of an AAB staff member.

The decision to organise the protest was taken during an emergency meeting of the Association’s Governing Council on July 13, citing what it described as the High Court administration’s “intransigence” and “overall cold response” to long-pending demands raised by members of the Bar.

Lawyers highlight shortage of judges

According to the AAB, nearly 20 courts in the Bengaluru City Civil Court complex are functioning without judges, leading to significant delays in the disposal of cases and inconvenience to litigants.

The Association termed the situation unprecedented, stating that the prolonged vacancies have severely affected the administration of justice and increased the burden on existing courts.

Infrastructure concerns raised

Apart from judicial vacancies, the AAB has also highlighted the lack of basic infrastructure across Bengaluru’s court complexes.

Among its major concerns is the new annex building of the Magistrate Court, where only one elevator is currently operational for all seven floors. The Association said this has caused considerable hardship, particularly for elderly litigants, persons with disabilities and lawyers, many of whom are forced to climb multiple flights of stairs.

The Association also pointed to delays in the listing of fresh matters before the High Court, alleging that repeated representations to the Registry and the Chief Justice have not yielded any concrete action.

Dharna rescheduled to July 22

The AAB said it had formally communicated its grievances regarding the City Civil Courts, Magistrate Courts, High Court and Mayo Hall court complexes through letters submitted in April 2026 and earlier, but claimed no meaningful response had been received.

The protest was initially planned to be held outside the Golden Jubilee Gate of the Karnataka High Court. However, following the demise of an AAB staff member, the Association has postponed the dharna to July 22, 2026, at the same venue