M A I N   N E W S

CJI asks lawyers to end stir

NEW DELHI, March 13 (PTI) — The Chief Justice of India, Mr A.S. Anand, today appealed to the striking lawyers to end their agitation and return to work as it has caused untold miseries to the litigants and brought the administration of justice to a halt.

This observation came while a Bench comprising himself, Mr Justice S.P. Bharucha and Mr Justice S.B. Majmudar, was hearing an application seeking initiation of contempt proceedings against advocates’ bodies on the ground that they flouted an earlier order of the Supreme Court.

The Court in a 1995 judgement had observed “the advocates should not resort to strike or boycott the court or abstain from court except in serious, rarest of rare cases instead they should resort to peaceful demonstration so as to avoid hardships to the litigant public”.

The Bench issued notices to the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and the Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) on the application.

UNI adds: Meanwhile, the seven presidents of the Bar and Tax Associations in the Capital began a relay hunger strike today to protest against the Government’s inaction over the February 24 police action on lawyers.

Lawyers protest en masse on CPC
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 13 — Thousands of lawyers from Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh today held a massive demonstration at the Punjab and Haryana High Court to protest against the amendments made in the Civil Procedure Code (CPC) and the Advocates’ Act.

Lawyers from far-flung areas started descending on the High Court premises at around 11 a.m. The meeting was held on the court lawns as it was not possible to accommodate the gathering in the Bar room.

Speaker after speaker flayed the government for the proposed amendments. Addressing the gathering, Mrs Daya Chaudhary, President of the High Court Bar Association, Mr Gopal Krishan Chatrath, former Advocate-General of Punjab, Mr H.S. Gill, Deputy Advocate-General of Punjab, and Ajay Pal Singh, an advocate, described the proposed amendments in the Civil Procedure Code as unconstitutional and aimed at denying justice to the litigant public.

They also condemned the “brutal” lathi charge on Delhi advocates on February 24 when they were taking out a “peaceful” procession against the Draconian amendments in the two statutes. They demanded an inquiry into the episode by a sitting Supreme Court Judge.

They warned the government that advocates all over the country would continue their agitation until their demands for scrapping the proposed amendments and inquiry into the lathi charge were accepted.

Speakers from different bar associations in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh also addressed the gathering and voiced similar sentiments.

Carrying placards, the lawyers later took out a procession from the High Court. After winding its way through Sectors 7, 5, 8 and 9, the procession ended at the Parade Ground.