About 200 advocates from across the district observed a fast here on Tuesday demanding withdrawal of amendments to the statutory rules of the Madras High Court, empowering courts to debar erring lawyers and Bar Council of India’s order suspending 126 advocates.
The lawyers who had been boycotting courts for more than two months, staged the hunger strike in front of the Collectorate and pledged to step up the agitation till the amendments were withdrawn in toto and suspension of lawyer was revoked.
As per the resolutions adopted at the executive committee meeting of the Joint Action Committee held in Madurai recently, the lawyers, led by Azhagu Balakrishnan, president of the Ramanathapuram Bar Association, observed a fast and resolved to continue the protest till they found a solution to the impasse.
As part of the series of agitations, they have decided to stage picketing agitation in front of the district court and other courts in the district on August 11 and 12.
On August 15, after celebrating Independence Day by hoisting national flag at the Bar Association, they would present petitions to the portraits of B. R. Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi after gagging their mouth with black cloth, he said.
More than 200 advocates from the district would leave for Chennai to take part in the relay fast to be observed in front of the Madras High Court on August 16. The striking advocates were united and firm in continuing the stir as the amendments were draconian in nature, he claimed.
As the amendments empowered courts to debar erring advocates from practice either temporarily or permanently by exercising power conferred under Section 3(1) of the Advocates Act, 1961, the lawyers would be virtually under the control of the courts and they could not freely discharge their duties, he said.
Presidents and other office bearers of Bar Associations of Paramakudi, Kamudhi, Mudukulathur, Thiruvadanai and Rameswaram took part in the fast.
TirunelveliAdvocates of Tirunelveli Bar Association observed a fast in front of the District Court Complex in Palayamkottai on Tuesday in protest against the proposed amendments in the Advocates’ Act 1961.
Led by its treasurer Rajeshwaran, they observed a fast as decided by the Joint Action Committee. Dindigul
Lawyers observed a fast before the district court demanding withdrawal of amendments to Advocates Act and High Court circular here on Tuesday. They condemned denial of rights to lawyers and announced that the strike would be intensified in the days to come.
