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Obstructing lawyers a matter of concern: court

Legal Correspondent

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday expressed concern at certain State Bar Councils passing informal resolutions discouraging lawyers from appearing for SIMI activists accused in bomb blast cases.

Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, heading a Bench, told senior counsel Colin Gonsalves that it was unfortunate that lawyers were prevented from appearing for certain accused.

“The Bar Council of India will have to do something about this. It is a statutory body. We can’t issue any such direction on your prayers.” Justice C.K. Thakker was also on the Bench.

Counsel said resolutions had been passed both officially and unofficially by different Bar associations to prevent lawyers from appearing for the accused in blast cases in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. In certain places lawyers who appeared for the accused were even beaten up.

When the Chief Justice said no order could be passed on the prayers sought, counsel said he would amend the petition. In their writ petition, Mohamad Ghulab and three other advocates said they were forcibly stopped from appearing for their clients in various criminal cases.

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