The Hindu : SC considers debarring striking lawyers

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Saturday, Dec 28, 2002

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SC considers debarring striking lawyers

New Delhi Dec. 27. Holding that no reason is good enough to disrupt the working of the courts through strikes, the Supreme Court has warned that if self-restraint is not exercised, then the courts can think of framing rules debarring striking lawyers from appearing for cases. This observation was made by a five-judge constitution Bench of the apex court while delivering the recent landmark verdict sending a clear signal that ``lawyers have no right to go on strike or give a call for boycott, not even on a token strike''.

Referring to the problems listed by the Bar Council of India as reasons for lawyers' strike, the Bench said ``of course the Bar may be concerned about such things but there can be no justification to paralyse the administration of justice.''

Justice Variava, writing for the Bench, said ``we remain of the view that strikes are illegal and that courts must now take a very serious view of the strikes and call for boycott.''

On the power of the court in this context, the Bench said the right of appearance in courts was still within the control and jurisdiction of the courts.

``Let the Bar take note that unless self-restraint is exercised, courts may now have to consider framing specific rules debarring advocates,'' the apex court said.

PTI

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