Lower courts told to stay off religious ceremonies

Besides the Chief Justice, who was to inaugurate the building, six other high court judges were also invited to the function, which was scheduled for January 21.

The invitation card, printed in Gujarati, was signed by four persons, including Mehsana district and sessions judge B N Karia, civil judge (junior division) Yashodhara Pandya, judicial magistrate (first class) and the president of the Kalol Bar Association.

After receiving the letter from the two lawyers, the Chief Justice reportedly informed the Kalol Bar and the district judge that he and other judges would not attend the inauguration if a ‘navchandi yagna’ was part of the programme. The Chief Justice is also said to have discussed the issue with other high court judges.

Office-bearers of the Kalol Bar then met the Chief Justice. It was only after the Kalol Bar decided not to hold the ‘yagna’ that the Chief Justice agreed to inaugurate the building.

Justice P B Majmudar, Justice R R Tripathi, Justice H K Rathod, Justice H H Mehta and justice J M Panchal were also present on the occasion.