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Lawyers defy SC order, go on strike

New Delhi, December 18
Lawyers all over the country, except in Maharashtra and Goa, struck work today despite a Supreme Court order yesterday declaring their strikes “illegal”.

The lawyers in the Capital here, with the exception of those in the Supreme Court, boycotted the courts bringing all proceedings to a grinding halt in response to a call given by the Bar Council of India (BCI) protesting against the implementation of Legal Services Authorities (Amendment) Act, 2002.

The lawyers in the Supreme Court abstained from the strike and the court was seen functioning normally. 

The apex court lawyers would, however, wear “white bands’’ as a mark of protest, Supreme Court Bar Association Secretary Ashok Arora said. PTI, UNI

Lawyers go on strike
Our Correspondent

Hamirpur, December 18
Defying the order of the Supreme Court, lawyers observed a day-long strike across the region today. They abstained themselves from courts and held meetings.

The Bar Council of India had given a strike call in protest against the Legal Services Authorities (Amendment) Act, 2002, providing for lok adalats in every Public Utility Service Department. The judgments of these lok adalats cannot be challenged in any court.

A five-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Mr Chief Justice G.B. Pattanaik, had said. The lawyers must not respond to any strike call given by any bar association. No threat or coercive action of any kind could be taken against any advocate by any bar association for non-participation in the strike. A spokesman for the Hamirpur District Bar Association claimed that the strike was complete.

BATALA: Lawyers of the Batala Bar Association, under the leadership of Mr Raghubir Singh Randhawa, went on a strike on Wednesday in protest against the verdict of the Supreme Court banning strikes by advocates.

FATEHGARH SAHIB: Lawyers of the District Bar observed a complete strike. In a press note issued here today, Mr Gian Singh Saini, president of the Bar, said a meeting of the District Bar Association was held on Wednesday and the lawyers unanimously decided to abstain from court work in view of a call given by the Supreme Court Bar Council of India. The strike was complete, he added.

HOSHIARPUR: A complete strike was observed by lawyers in the city, Garhshankar and Dasuya. Mr R.P. Dhir, former Vice-Chairman, Bar Council Punjab and Haryana, strongly condemned the Legal Services Authorities (Amendment) Act, 1987, and demanded for the withdrawal of undesirable clauses. He said going on a strike by any section of the society was its natural right.

KAPURTHALA: On a call given by the Bar Council of India, members of the District Bar Association observed a strike. They were protesting against the amended provisions of the Legal Services Authority Act.

TARN TARAN: The local Bar Association observed a strike. The association at a meeting presided over by Mr Kulwant Singh Bedi, president of the association, condemned the decision of the government imposing a ban on lawyers to appear in fast-track courts.

KAITHAL: Members of the local District Bar Association went on a strike in protest against the Legal Services Authorities Amendment Act, 2002, providing for lok adalats in every Public Utility Services Department of the government. However, it was learnt that work in courts here was normal. Mr K.L. Bhardwaj, president, District Bar, said they abstained from attending courts in view of a call given by the Bar Council of India.