Delhi HC, lower court work hit due to lawyers’ strike

NEW DELHI, FEB 28: Work in Delhi High Court and lower courts continued to be affected for the third day on Monday due to strike by lawyers...

NEW DELHI, FEB 28: Work in Delhi High Court and lower courts continued to be affected for the third day on Monday due to strike by lawyers since February 24 against amendments to the Civil Prodecure Code (CPC), entry of foreign attorneys and police "accesses" against them during a procession here.

However, Supreme Court, which the lawyers boycotted on February 24, functioned as usual.

Litigants found themselves at loss when their cases came up for hearing before different benches in the High Court as judges enquired why their advocates were not appearing.

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A division bench, headed by Chief Justice S N Variava warned the litigants that no adjournement would be allowed from Tuesday if their advocates did not appear.

"If your lawyer does not appear, there will be no adjournemnt on Tuesday. Ensure your lawyer appears or else you will argue the case," Justice Variava told a litigant, whose case was listed for urgent hearing.

Litigants found themselves more confused before benches hearing criminal cases as police counsel continued arguments and only a "proxy counsel" appointed by the Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) stood for them to seek adjournment.

Lawyers also boycotted courts in all the three district courts of Tis Hazari, Patiala House and Karkardooma.

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DHCBA president A S Chandihoke said "we are waiting for the outcome of a meeting of our representatives led by Bar Council of India (BCI) chairman S K Kaarvendhan with Home Minister L K Advani in Parliament House today."

"Any further action by the lawers depends on the outcome of the meeting," he said.

Meanwhile, various Bar Associations demanded that the Government set up an inquiry commission under a sitting Supreme Court or a Delhi High Court Judge to probe the alleged lathicharge by the police against lawyers here on February 24.

"Pending inquiry, the government should immediately suspend New Delhi area DCP Pranab Nanda, ASPs T S Bhalla and Vijay Malik and transfer Joint Commissioner R K Niyogi," a statement issued by DHBCA secretary Anoop Bagai said.

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The lawyers also demanded registration of cases against the "erring" police officials for allegedly indulging in "unprovoked" action against them.

However, DCP Nanda in his statement earlier had said that police resorted to "mild lathicharge" only after lawyers had "tried" to break the barricades during their procession.

The associations also demanded that Government should not notify the amendments in CPC and place before Parliament a bill for amendment in the Advocates’ Act.