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Srikrishna to submit report on lawyers-police clash tomorrow

J. Venkatesan

Supreme Court hearing on March 6
Lawyers offer to work on Saturdays, Sundays to clear backlog

Justice B.N. Srikrishna

NEW DELHI: Justice B.N. Srikrishna, retired apex court judge, probing the February 19 clashes between lawyers and police on the Madras High Court premises is to submit his interim report to the Supreme Court on March 5.

Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan heading a three-Judge Bench told this to counsel during the hearing of petitions filed by advocates R. Vaigai and others demanding action against police officers responsible for the attack on lawyers. Justice P. Sathasivam and Justice J.M. Panchal are the other judges on the Bench.

When the matter was taken up, the CJI said, “We posted it for today in the hope that you [lawyers] will resume work but you are not going to court.”

Senior counsel K. Subramanian said, “We are fully obeying your orders. No slogans are shouted in the court. We are waiting for Justice Srikrishna’s report so that some positive action can be taken.”

The CJI said, “The report will be available on March 5.”

Counsel R. Karuppan said everyday statements being made by police were found to be wrong. He said the entire police action was pre-meditated. “We have fullest faith in this institution and we will abide by whatever your Lordship say.”

Tamil Nadu Advocates Association president S. Prabhakaran told the CJI “lawyers are demoralised and the atmosphere is not conducive to resume work. Everyday police officers are indulging in spreading false information and they are not implementing the court orders and are committing contempt of court.”

He read out the order passed by the Madras High Court on Monday which clearly said that police had not complied with the orders. He said wives of police officers held a demonstration demanding that no action should be taken against police officers on the basis of Justice Srikrishna report.

The CJI observed, “The police stopped court work for over an hour. You [lawyers] have stopped the court work forever.”

Paul Kanakaraj represented the Madras High Court Advocates Association and K. Santhakumari, the Women Lawyers Association.

Solicitor-General G.E. Vahanvati, appearing for the State, said law officers appearing in courts were asked to take off their black gowns. He said the apex court order that armed police should not enter court premises was causing difficulties as armed police was required to accompany certain remand prisoners.

Senior counsel Ashok Desai, who too appeared for the State, said lawyers should resume work in the interest of the litigants. Mr. Subramanian responded saying, “Let action be taken against the erring police officers. We lawyers will work on Saturdays and Sundays and clear the backlog.”

Senior counsel Harish Salve, appearing for 35 advocates, said: “Now there is a lot of anger. We will try to defuse the situation. Let there be a code of conduct for lawyers.”

Senior counsel K.K. Venugopal appearing for the High Court said police security provided to the High Court premises since 1992 should continue. Taking note of the submissions of the State and the High court, the Bench asked the Madras High Court to pass appropriate orders in this regard, and posted the matter for further hearing on March 6.

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