UP Court Raises Concern Over Lawyers Leaving Proceedings for Friday Namaz

GG News Bureau
Lucknow, 20th Jan. A local court has expressed serious concern about the behavior of some Muslim lawyers who leave court proceedings to attend Friday namaz (prayer).

The court emphasized that these lawyers should remember that work is worship and they must prioritize their judicial duties.

The court ordered to provide amicus curiae (friend of the court) to those accused of an illegal religious conversion case if Muslim lawyers refrain themselves from court proceedings for offering namaz, the amicus curiae could continue conducting the trial proceedings so that judicial proceedings are not disturbed.

The order was issued by Special Judge, NIA/ATS, Vivekanand Sharan Tripathi during the hearing of a criminal trial involving accused Maulana Kalimuddin and others in connection with an illegal religious conversion case.

The court also rejected a plea from some lawyers representing an accused individual who were seeking certain documents. The court warned them to file any necessary applications within the specified time.

During the trial proceedings, when it was time for cross-examination of witnesses, advocates Mohammad Amir Naqwi and advocate Jiya-ul-Jilani informed the court that they would not be able to continue due to Friday namaz. The court stated that it would not be appropriate to grant them permission to leave for this reason. However, due to the circumstances, the court had to adjourn the trial proceedings.

In order to address the issue, the court directed its officer to appoint an amicus curiae for the Muslim lawyers representing the accused. The court warned that if these lawyers continued to leave the courtroom for namaz, the trial would not be able to be completed.