The Bar Council of India (BCI) has expressed concern at the recent attack on lawyers and filing of cases against them in Tamil Nadu and sought intervention of the acting Chief Justice of the Madras High Court to put an end to such harassment.
In a statement here, BCI chairman Manan Kumar Mishra condemned Director-General of Police Ramanujam’s refusal to meet Bar leaders who wanted to hand in a memorandum, detailing the assault on, and filing of false cases against, 20 advocates.
Mr. Mishra said that Mr. Ramanujam, the highest police authority, insulted them; he shouted that lawyers in the State were unruly, before asking his staff to see them off.
He appealed to the acting Chief Justice to intervene immediately and put an end to such “atrocities” against lawyers.
He also urged advocates to be calm so that the judiciary could resolve the matter.
‘Unfortunate’
Supreme Court Bar Association president M.N. Krishnamani has also criticised the DGP’s behaviour. “Whoever may be the person and whatever may be the situation, it is the duty of the DGP to receive representation. What action he takes on the representation is of no consequence,” he said.
“The arbitrary manner in which the DGP treated the Bar leaders is unfortunate and is not expected from an officer of his rank. His outburst against the legal community … is unwarranted,” Mr. Krishnamani said.
