Thousands of advocates from across the State participated in a rally taken out here in protest against the recent amendments to the statutory rules of the Madras High Court, empowering the courts to debar erring lawyers.
The rally organised by the Madras High Court Advocates Association (MHAA) received the support of over 135 advocates’ associations all over the State, including the Federation of Bar Association of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, and the Women Lawyers Association.
On May 18, new amendments were notified in the government gazette through which four provisos were inserted to Rule 14 of the statutory rules framed by the Madras High Court on January 21, 1970 by exercising powers conferred on it under Section 34(1) of the Advocates Act, 1961.
The amendment empowers the High Court as well as the court of Principal District Judge in every district to debar advocates “indulging in misconduct.”
Alleging that these amendments constituted a serious threat to the independence of the legal profession, the MHAA called for a protest rally.
On Monday, thousands of lawyers from all over the State participated in the rally which began from D-1 Triplicane police station and ended at Chepauk.
Though Chief Justice of Madras High Court S.K. Kaul expressed his view through the media that the rally was unnecessary and the court was ready to consider suggestions or objections from the associations, the MHAA said the rally was meant to show the solidarity among lawyers and was not against any court. The rally was peaceful and did not cause much disruption to the High Court proceedings. A public meeting was organised at the conclusion of the rally.
Six resolutions were adopted demanding the immediate withdrawal of the amendments and a dialogue between the Bar and the Bench to evolve effective mechanisms to amicably settle all issues.
Besides resolving to organise a national-level conference/ seminar to discuss all the issues concerning the lawyers’ problems, the gathering also demanded to revoke the suspension of 33 advocates on various occasions by the Bar Council.
