Lukewarm response to court boycott call
Chennai: The Additional Solicitor-General, G. Rajagopalan, has sought a directive to dissolve the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry (BCT and P) as four of its members took part in a meeting in Tiruchirappalli on Sunday to condemn the suspension of 14 Madurai-based advocates by Bar Council of India (BCI) for staging a protest against judges.
Rajagopalan made the submission before the First bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice T.S. Sivagnanam. Last week, Bar Council of India (BCI) had suspended 14 Madurai-based advocates for staging a series of demonstrations against judges. Subsequently, the high court initiated suo motu contempt petition against the president and secretary of Madurai Bar Association. The Court also directed the association to vacate the building.
Challenging these, advocates planned to stage a protest. To discuss the issues, a large number of advocates assembled in Tiruchy on Sunday. Meanwhile, on Sunday, Madras High Court Advocates' Association (MHAA) called for a boycott of courts on Monday.
According to Rajagopalan, the participation of four members of BCT and P was against law. Hence the BCT and P should be dissolved. He also sought action against the four advocates. Similarly, he said the boycott call was against law.
Office-bearers of BCT and P have submitted a memorandum to the Chief Justice requesting him to reconsider the directive to Madurai Bar Association. Meanwhile, the boycott call evoked a lukewarm response. Normal functioning of courts was not affected severely. Interestingly, boycotts in the past were marked by meetings, slogan shouting and procession by advocates. All these were missing on Monday, apparently in view of the high court and BCI taking action against erring advocates.
