Bombay Bar Assn will not join stir

MUMBAI, FEBRUARY 22: At least 700 lawyers owing allegience to the Bombay Bar Association BBA will not join the February 24 strike called by the Bar Council of India BCI, president of the association M S Sanghavi told Newsline today. However, about 25 bar associations in the city, many of which represent advocates in the lower courts, have decided to join the strike and will hold a meeting at Hutatma Chowk on the issue.

The BCI, according to a resolution passed on February 18, has urged given the call to all bar associations and councils across the country to abstain from work on February 24 to protest against the Union Law Ministry8217;s implementation of the amendments in the Code of Civil Procedure CPC despite the plea of the legal fraternity that this be 8220;deferred8221;. The BCI along with all other bar associations in the country has opposed some of the amendments in the CPC holding that they are against the interests of the litigating public.

Among the ways of protest listed in the resolution are to abstain from court work, create a human chain, organise rallies, wear protest badges, observe hunger strikes and hold public meetings.

8220;We definitely oppose some of the amendments made in the CPC and we intend to continue to oppose them, but we don8217;t think striking or abstaining from work is the right form of protest,8221; says Sanghavi. 8220;We as lawyers, after all, have to uphold the law,8221; he adds, referring to the Supreme Court observation on strikes where the apex court that it should be used in the 8220;rarest of rare cases8221;.

This will be the second time that the advocate fraternity is protesting on the issue after they abstained from work on February 3.

However, the other bar association in the Bombay High Court, the Advocates Association of Western India AAWI is expected to hold a special general body meeting meeting tomorrow to decide on joining the stir.