The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has announced that all its Benches will only take urgent matters from 3 pm to 4.30 pm and on mentioning, on January 22 on account of Prana Pratishtha at Ayodhya Ram Temple. The NCLT issued an office order yesterday stating also that the Registry in all its Benches will work only from 3 pm on Monday.

Likewise, the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has issued a notification yesterday announcing that all its Benches, including the Principal Bench, will remain closed till 2.30 pm on January 22.

Subsequently, another notification was issued by the Principal Bench stating that it would remain closed even during the second half of January 22, making it a complete holiday on Monday for the Principal Bench of the CAT.

The Central Industrial Tribunal cum Labour Court is also unlikely to function on January 22. The CGIT Jabalpur has already issued a notification to that effect. The CGIT at Rose Avenue, Delhi has already published a cause list stating that all cases on January 22 are adjourned to specified dates.

The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Mumbai has issued a notice stating that all benches will commence sitting only at 3 pm on January 22.

The Advocates' Association, Bengaluru has written to the Chief Minister of Karnataka seeking a declaration of a holiday on January 22. "Most of the people in Karnataka identify themselves with Lord Sri Ramachandra and the principled life he left behind has influenced Indian Society and imbibed it with noble and great values. Therefore it is essential that a holiday be either for full day or atleast half day on Monday the 22nd January, 2024 and we request you to respond to the wishes of the people of Karnataka and declare either a half day holiday or full day holiday on 22nd January, 2024", reads the letter issued by the Association.

The Gujarat High Court Advocates Association has told the media that the Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court has accepted their request not to pass any adverse order if any lawyer remains absent on January 22.

The live visuals of Prana Pratishtha in Ayodhya will be displayed at the Chamber Complex of Kerala High Court Advocates' Association (MKD Hall), next to the Kerala High Court on January 22 from 11 am to 1 pm. Thereafter sweets will be distributed to Advocates in the Kerala High Court from 1 pm on January 22.

Adhivakta Parishad, Mumbai has announced that sweets will be distributed in different Courts in Mumbai, including the Bombay High Court on January 22. "The ceremony is a consequence of devotion of many Kar Sevaks as well as lawyers who have fought the long judicial battle for past many years. Therefore, it is a matter of pride for legal fraternity", said a press release issued by the organisation about Prana Pratishtha.

Earlier this week, the New Delhi Bar Association had requested judicial officers not to pass any adverse orders for the non-appearance of advocates or litigants on January 22, 2024.

Thereafter, the Bar Council of India submitted a request to Chief Justice Dr. D. Y. Chandrachud, urging for the declaration of a nationwide holiday in the Supreme Court, High Courts, District Courts, and other courts across India on the occasion of the Shri Ram Mandir Inauguration scheduled for January 22, 2024.

Invitations for the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya have been extended to the Supreme Court Justices who delivered the Ayodhya Verdict in November 2019 as part of the Constitution Bench, among others including leading jurists.

Verdictum News Desk