HC lawyers abstained from proceedings, supported strike

Now lawyers of Delhi High Court have come forward in support of two-day strike called by the Bar Council of India. Lawyers have been agitating against the proposed legislation that could affect its autonomy and allow entry of foreign law institutes and universities in India. Apart from the all the district courts of Delhi, about 17 lakh lawyers have been protesting against the legislation. Thursday is the last day of their strike, which was started from yesterday.

However the high court lawyers had not joined the protest Wednesday, but abstained from work Thursday.

According to Delhi High Court Bar Association president A.S. Chandhiok,"We are not on strike, but are abstaining ourselves from going to court."

It is noted that the strike has paralyzed all judicial proceedings in the city?s six district courts including Patiala House, Tis Hazari, Rohini, Dwarka, Saket and Karkardooma.

President of Rohini Court Bar Association Inder Singh Saroha said that lawyers' strike aimed at telling the government not to go against the legal fraternity. If the government does not hear our demands, we can call for a nationwide agitation, he added.

Secretary of New Delhi Bar Association Jagdeep Vats called the strike successful since none of counsel appeared in any city court.

It is noted that work in courts across the country was severely affected Wednesday too, after around 17 lakh lawyers joined the strike.

(With inputs from IANS)