The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Law unto themselves

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Monday, Feb 23, 2009
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Law unto themselves

The editorial “A law unto themselves” (Feb. 20) on the clash between lawyers and the police on the Madras High Court premises was one of the best editorials written in recent times. The common man would like to know whether the action of lawyers — throwing stones at the police who went to arrest a few of them for attacking Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy in the presence of judges on Tuesday — was morally correct.

Are lawyers above the law? Can they torch a police station and attack policemen with impunity? We need answers to these questions before we can accuse the police of high-handedness.

R. Venkatesan,

Chennai

* * *

The editorial is right in saying that the police matched the lawyers in their lawlessness. But lawyers have been indulging in unruly activities for quite time. They have been preventing the functioning of courts over an issue which is not concerned with them. It is unfortunate that the lawyer community, instead of condemning the attack on Dr. Swamy, is seeking to shield them. Equally deplorable is the attitude of political leaders who have condemned the police. As for the police, they remained mute witness to the violence in the Chennai law college a few months ago but on Thursday they overreacted. Something is wrong with the law-enforcing machinery and the government looks helpless in dealing with the situation.

G. Ramachandran,

Thiruvananthapuram

Lawyers, expected to show the way in solving problems in a civilised manner, cannot be allowed to take the law into their own hands. Unless they are made to realise that they have to pay a price for their behaviour, such ugly scenes are bound to take place again.

G. Sundar,

Ontario

* * *

The unruly behaviour of lawyers has raised serious concerns. Following the Madras High Court episode, protesting lawyers damaged public property in various parts of Tamil Nadu. Incidents like setting fire to a police station and buses deserve to be viewed seriously. The people responsible for them should be punished as they constitute a serious threat to law and order.

D. Muralikrishna,

Chennai

* * *

Tamil Nadu’s image as a well governed State has been dented by Thursday’s violence. The focus is on the lawyers and the policemen who were hurt but what about the common man? Due to the standoff, he is losing so much time for no fault of his. The lawyers are to blame for the ugly episode. Without showing least respect for the court, they attacked Dr. Swamy. To add fuel to the fire, self-centred political parties and anti-social elements are exploiting the situation.

P.S. Chandramouli,

Chennai

* * *

If Dr. Swamy abused a lawyer on caste lines, as alleged, the lawyers could have used the provisions in law to deal with him. They need not have resorted to violence demanding his arrest.

V. Sivakumar,

Dammam

* * *

Not long ago, lawyers in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry boycotted courts demanding a Supreme Court bench in Chennai. But looking at the way things are unfolding, even the Madras High Court may have to be shifted out of Chennai.

R. Sudarsan,

Chennai

* * *

Gone are the days when lawyers of the Madras High Court were seen as role models in their profession in the country and abroad. During the days of the British Raj, the English judges would envy the acumen of our lawyers and appreciate their presentation, arguments and their English potential. On Thursday, the law-enforcing authorities were provoked by the advocates, who indulged in violence and arson. The torching of a police station on the High Court premises deserves to be condemned. In the interest of the judiciary and democracy, the court and the law-enforcing authorities should deal with this episode strictly.

E.P. Parthasarathy,

Chennai

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Law unto themselves