The judges of the subordinate courts in Telangana, who were on mass leave since last week, resumed work on Wednesday.
This followed advice by Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan, Chief Justice of India T.S. Thakur and Acting Chief Justice of High Court at Hyderabad Dilip B. Bhosale.
The judges, who were protesting appointment of Andhra-origin judges, returned to work following a decision taken by the Telangana Judges Association (TJA).
The association resolved to request the High Court to revoke the suspension of 11 judges and drop all further consequential proceedings. It also wanted the High Court to treat the 'leave' period of the officers, which was rejected, as 'sanctioned'.
The judges had gone on mass casual leave from June 28 till July 12 to seek revocation of provisional allocation of Andhra-origin judges to the subordinate courts and also to express solidarity with lawyers demanding separate high court for Telangana.
The High Court of Judicature at Hyderabad, which is common high court for both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, had suspended 11 judges for indiscipline. The action came after they led a rally to Raj Bhavan to protest appointment of Andhra-origin judges.
The Governor, the Chief Justice of India and the Acting Chief Justice of the High Court had advised the lawyers and judges to first call off their strike.
While the judges decided to resume duties, the lawyers said their strike would continue till the withdrawal of the provisional allocation of judges belonging to Andhra Pradesh and revocation of the suspension of 11 judges.
The lawyers began the protest last month after the high court issued orders making provisional allotment of judges to lower courts in both the states. They claimed that 130 out of 335 judicial officers allotted to Telangana were of Andhra origin.
They also intensified the protest to demand immediate bifurcation of the high court. Telangana government has also requested the Centre to immediately intervene and set up separate high court for Telangana.