DHARWAD: Lawyers, who are agitating for early beginning of the work on Circuit Bench building in Dharwad, courted arrest on Tuesday.

Fourteen advocates, including Dharwad Bar Association vice-president B.S. Godse, were arrested by the police when they were waiting to gherao Primary and Secondary Education Minister Basavaraj Horatti.

The advocates, who boycotted courts and continued their relay hunger strike, had gathered outside the city court complex to block the way of the Minister. The police rushed to the spot and took them into custody.

However, Mr. Horatti went to the Suburban Police Station and met the lawyers.

Mr. Horatti spoke to Minister for Public Works and Energy H.D. Revanna and Chief Minister H.D. Kumarswamy on phone to know the latest position.

But there was confusion over the amount required for the project.

Mr. Horatti later told the lawyers that according to Mr. Revanna, an additional Rs. 49 crore would be required for the project going by the bids submitted by the contractors.

However, the Chief Engineer of PWD in the district told Mr. Horatti that the figure was Rs. 12 crore.

Mr. Horatti assured the lawyers that he would raise the issue at the next Cabinet meeting and try to get the approval for the lowest bid for the construction of the Circuit Bench.

The lawyers told the Minister that there was no question of them ending the agitation unless the work orders were issued.

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