BCI calls for national lawyer strike because of police-lawyer violence

Friday, 8 March 2013 By Legally India Bar, Bench & Litigation

The Bar Council of India (BCI) has called for all lawyers in the country to abstain from work on Monday, 11 March 2013, “in protest against the brutal assault on Lawyers in Jaipur and Chandigarh”.

The notification on the BCI’s website adds:

“The Lawyers all across the country (except the Lawyers of Delhi who have already observed the abstention on 7.3.13) should abstain from the work on 11.3.13 in support of Lawyers of Rajasthan and Chandigarh. The protest should be peaceful and in most dignified way.”

Legally India re-reported yesterday that lawyers in Jaipur were protesting for long-pending housing project and personal allowance demands, while Chandigarh lawyers protested at the Punjab & Haryana high court to support of 20 advocates against whom a case was registered for allegedly manhandling a police officer.

The government’s law minister Ashwani Kumar stated yesterday ago that over 30 million cases were now pending across courts, with 66,569 pending in the Supreme Court of India.

Bar Council of India (BCI)strikependency

Comments

Zing 8 Mar 2013, 14:45
+2 -3
Another illegal Strike !

If lawyers cannot get things done legally what the hell are we lawyers for !

Ex Capt Harish Uppal v. Union of India

K. John Koshy & Ors. vs. Dr. Tarakeshwar Prasad Shaw

I am going to the Court on Monday the 11th March 2013. Does not matter if the opposing counsel shows up or not. The case must go on !
Sudheer Reddy 9 Mar 2013, 05:48
+3 -2
Shameful that BCI which is supposed to be guardian of "professional ethics" is calling for strike, doesn't it know lawyers are not allowed to strike ........
Hum Bhi Protest Karenge 9 Mar 2013, 08:43
+4 -4
We too have a right to protest against the dastardly acts of violence against us. In a democracy the Police should be there to protect its citizens and not ruthlessly beat them up. What happened in Jaipur and Chandigarh is utterly shameful and the least we can do for our brethren is support the strike as a mark of protest.
Anon 10 Mar 2013, 06:40
+2 -5
In my view the decision of the BCI is commendable. The lawyers must protest against police excesses and high-handedness in a peaceful manner. The lawyers did that against the British during the per-independence and there is no reason why they should sit idle when even in an independent country the policy acts tyrannically. It is cruel truth that the police does not act independently and judiciously and metes out excesses under the false assumption that police power is supreme. The lawyers as a collective body have a great role to play to preserve democratic values and the rule of law. These can be achieved through the process of courts or peaceful satyagraha, following the example of the Father of the Nation. Those who comment upon the resolution of the BCI are selfish and only concerned about their daily fees.
Zing 10 Mar 2013, 18:13
+2 -0
Ofcourse a peaceful protest is definitely needed but NOT a strike.

Strike => The loosers are litigants who have paid the lawyers to represent them. Why should they loose in the fight between lawyers and police ?
apple 10 Mar 2013, 12:39
+3 -1
Some of the comments here reflect the falling standards of legal profession. Now I understand why BCI insists on a shoddy Bar Exam so that every rag picker graduating from some god forsaken law colleges can get himself enrolled and sustain BCI's mega tomfoolery.
Concerned 10 Mar 2013, 14:45
+1 -4
Dear Apple: Are you an NLU alumni working inhouse or in a corporate law firm?
Guest 11 Mar 2013, 09:11
+4 -1
Dear Concerned: Do you reject briefs from NLU alumnis working inhouse or in a corporate law firm? Do you reject the wisdom of the Supreme Court that held such strikes to be Illegal?
DISCIPLINIARY ACTION?? 13 Mar 2013, 08:02
+4 -0
Believing that strike is illegal I did appear at Saket Court on 11.3.2013. Firstly, some of the lawyers had got the enterance locked and were stopping us from entering the court premises. Later on when the Police arrived I entered my Court Room. I was determined to appear for my client as the Judge was sitting and what else did I need? However, a group of lawyers entered the Court room & threatened that my name (as of 2 other lawyers there) would be noted down and disciplinary action would be taken against us by the Bar if we do not move out of the Court Room immediately.

Well, some did while two of us just sat there for our item numbers to be called out.. now awaiting the "disciplinary action" to be taken up..!!

So those commending and supporting such call for strike, seriously THINK or atleast APPLY the law which you claim to knw so mch of...!!
Confused Zeus Says . . . 13 Mar 2013, 08:25
+1 -0
Kudos to you for not succumbing to pressure and standing for what you believed is right. Commendable.
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