Lawyers go on rampage over judge’s strike order

Following the order today, the advocates targeted Allahabad’s Chief Judicial Magistrate Ramapati Maurya, District Judge R.K. Rastogi and Civil Judge Ram Rajya.

Baton-wielding lawyers vandalised the chambers of all the three judges, leaving furniture and glasses damaged. The judges’ official cars were also damaged. ‘‘We feared for our lives and ran away when the lawyers targeted us inside our chambers. It was frightening,’’ Civil Judge Ram Rajya said.

Later, Rapid Action Force personnel were rushed to the spot to control the situation.

Protesting against the arrest of Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati, the city’s lawyers had gone on strike on November 22 and blocked all roads leading to the district court premises. The judges had objected to the strike.

Inspecting judge Sunil Ambwani of the Allahabad High Court was gheraoed during the strike and the tyres of his car were deflated by the protesting lawyers.

Following this, the inspecting judge sent a report of the incident to the Acting Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court, who in turn set up a five-member division bench to look into the matter.

The bench today issued contempt notices to 35 advocates and barred the entry of 13 others to the court premises till December 8. Irate lawyers then targeted the judges who passed the orders.