Court: Postponement of bar association’s general assembly is against the law

* Photo: Muğla Bar Association / Twitter

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The Muğla 3rd Administrative Court has concluded that the postponement of Muğla Bar Association's General Assembly meeting by the decision of the provincial public health board is "openly against the law."

According to journalist Alican Uludağ, who shared the ruling on his Twitter account, the administrative court has indicated that "an administrative board cannot give a decision about this issue."

Muğla Bar Association Chair Cumhur Uzun has also tweeted a message about the issue and said, "The execution of the procedure that causes our Bar's General Assembly to be postponed has been halted."

As reported by Gazete Duvar news website, the ruling of the administrative court has underlined that the dates when bar associations' general assemblies are to be convened are determined by the law.

Against this legal background, the court has reportedly concluded, "An administrative board cannot give a decision about this issue. The procedure has not been found lawful on the grounds that the postponement of the general assembly is openly against the related provision of the law."

Muğla Bar Association Chair Cumhur Uzun has announced that they will hold the general assembly on November 14-15.

What happened?

In a circular letter addressed to the 81 governor's offices across Turkey, the Ministry of Interior has announced that the events to be held by non-governmental organizations (NGO), professional organizations, unions and cooperatives have been postponed till December 1, 2020.

After the Interior issued the circular letter referring to the pandemic as the reason, the Supreme Election Council (YSK) has announced that the general assemblies and elections of bar associations cannot be held if the District or Provincial Public Health Boards give such a decision. The Council has not found it objectionable that political parties hold their conventions.

On October 6, the YSK rejected the request of 24 bar associations for the annulment of the circular letter postponing bar elections due to novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. (EKN/SD)