Advocates observe token strike

VADODARA, Nov 26: More than 1,200 advocates practicing in various courts of Vadodara district participated in the nationwide one-day token strike on Thursday in protest against the provisions of the Central Administrative Tribunal CAT Act that asks them to seek permission from chairpersons of tribunals for appearing in their courts. The call for the strike had been given by the Bar Council of India.

Former secretary of the Baroda Bar Association Moin T Rifai said, article 30 of the Bar Council Act authorised advocates to practice in any court throughout the length and breadth of the country, but the provisions of CAT restricted the professional freedom of advocates.

He said that though chairpersons of tribunals by and large granted permission to all those who applied for permission to appear on behalf of their clients, there have been cases when permission had been denied.

Moreover, it was quite humiliating for an advocate to seek permission for every new client, he pointed out, questioning that when no such restrictions had been imposed on advocates in district courts, high courts and Supreme Court of India, why should such a retrogressive policy be followed in tribunals.