The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Federation suspends court boycott

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 27, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Federation suspends court boycott

By Our Tamil Nadu Bureau

SALEM, AUG. 26. The Federation of District and Subordinate Courts Bar Associations of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry today decided to ``suspend'' court boycott and asked its members to resume work from August 30.

The general council, which met here, however, warned that the federation would resume its agitation anytime if the demand of the lawyers of Tiruchi, Thanjavur and Karur districts that they function under the territorial jurisdiction of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court was not met. It asked the members of Tiruchi and Karur Bars, who earlier declared that they would continue their agitation until a "clear assurance from the appropriate forum is obtained on the Madurai Bench's jurisdiction," to reconsider their decision in the interest of the public and litigants.

While welcoming the High Court's announcement repealing the 25-point code of conduct for lawyers, the council reiterated that the Chief Justice, B. Subhashan Reddy, be recalled immediately. The cases registered against the lawyers during the strike in various courts should also be withdrawn unconditionally, said the meeting.

Vigilance panels

The council endorsed a Salem Bar Association resolution, which urged the federation to form ``vigilance committees'' to ``identify and report on the corrupt elements in the subordinate judiciary.'' ``The committee members will be selected from the respective Bar associations," said P. Thirumalairajan, federation secretary.

Through the vigilance committees, the Bar and its members would ``evaluate'' the judgments given by the subordinate courts. He asked the members to shun lawyers who acted as ``intermediaries'' and expose the police officials who had ``direct access to judicial officers."

The federation would launch a national-level campaign against corruption in the judiciary from December. Preparatory meetings would be held at Jammu, said Mr. Thirumalairajan.

Chennai lawyers to resume

In Chennai, the Madras High Court Advocates Association (MHAA) and the Law Association today announced that their members would resume work from tomorrow. The presidents, S. Prabakaran and J. Rajendra Prasad, made announcements to this effect. However, the Women Lawyers' Association (WLA) would take a decision only tomorrow, according to its president, K. Santhakumari.

Sources in the Madras Bar Association (MBA) said there was no necessity to formally announce resumption of work as the MBA had started the boycott only to press for the withdrawal of the code.

"Now that the code has been withdrawn and there is no necessity to announce separately that we are returning to work," said an office-bearer.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu

News Update

Stories in this Section

Build fire-proof schools: Kalam

Stamp on S.S. Vasan released

Federation suspends court boycott

Vijayalakshmi, Jayaraman new entrants

More suspensions imminent in Jayalakshmi case

Orders on withdrawal petition in Vaiko case on September 1

No route curbs for Chathurthi processions, please: BJP

Arrest warrant against MDMK MP

Personal assistants of 3 Ministers suspended

Prisoners on fast, demand repeal of POTA

Vasan demands action against Uma Bharti

`Episode erodes faith in police'

Third judge adjourns appeals on admissions

Briefly