The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Judges heckled, police officer attacked

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 08, 2007
ePaper


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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Judges heckled, police officer attacked

Special Correspondent

Advocates' agitation against Arcot Veerasamy's `remarks'

PROTEST: Advocates of the Madras High Court condemn Minister Arcot Veerasamy's reported remarks on judiciary, in Chennai on Wednesday. — Photo: K.V. Srinivasan

CHENNAI: Heckling of judges, assault on a police officer, burning of effigy and disruption of court proceedings marked advocates' agitation against the reported remarks of Electricity Minister Arcot N. Veerasamy on the judiciary.

The campus rally, taken out by advocates inside the Madras High Court premises, turned ugly with many of them seen banging the doors of a court hall where proceedings were on. They also entered the First Court and urged advocates to join the boycott, saying the agitation was to safeguard the independence and dignity of the institution.

In one court hall, there was an altercation between the agitators and a government advocate, who insisted on attending to court work.

Later, a group of advocates went around the sessions court complex as well and heckled judges who were sitting inside court halls. Some advocates abused an additional sessions judge who warned them of action.

Effigy burnt

Some other advocates burnt the effigy of Mr. Veerasamy in front of the advocates' canteen on the campus and denounced his reported comments against judges. A sub-inspector of police in plainclothes was attacked when he attempted to douse the flame.

The High Court police have registered a case for causing grievous hurt, wrongful restraint, assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging his duty and criminal intimidation, against some identified and unidentified advocates.

As per a Division Bench order, dated June 20, 2006, which directs the Registrar-General and the Assistant Commissioner of Police to ensure that no political activity of any manner took place within the court premises, the officials are to report the names of "lawyers or persons indulging in such activities to the Chief Justice," to maintain the decorum and dignity of the court.

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