Expressing solidarity with the ongoing protests against the “draconian” rules of conduct that empower judges to debar errant advocates and condemning the suspension of 126 lawyers of Tamil Nadu by the Bar Council of India, over 800 lawyers made a representation to the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry requesting it to suspend their licence to practise.
The lawyers, led by senior counsel R. Vaigai, also demanded that the suspension orders against 176 advocates passed by the State Bar Council and the BCI from 2015 till Wednesday in connection with the agitation be revoked, and five lawyers who were arrested for staging protests be released.
Earlier in the day, the Madras High Court Advocates Association, in its extraordinary general body meeting, adopted a resolution demanding that no criminal action be initiated against those who participated in the “peaceful” agitation on July 25, and the arrested lawyers be released. It further resolved that all suspension orders and disciplinary proceedings passed by the BCI and the State Bar Council during 2015-16 be withdrawn unconditionally. It added that the future course of action will be decided at the general body meeting of the Joint Action Committee scheduled on Thursday in Thanjavur.
The bail applications moved by five advocates including George Town Court Bar Association President Karunakaran arrested for participating in Monday’s protest were dismissed by the VII Metropolitan Magistrate on Wednesday.
Subsequently, an appeal was moved against the order before the Principal Sessions Court, Chennai. The appeal moved by senior counsel R. Vaigai on behalf of the advocates was also dismissed by the Principal District Session Judge Jaichandran.
Bail plea of five advocates arrested for participating in Monday’s protest
was dismissed
