The Hindu : Front Page : Lawyers to end boycott of courts

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Friday, Mar 20, 2009
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Lawyers to end boycott of courts

K.T. Sangameswaran and R.K. Radhakrishnan

“State Government not to let down police”
Lawyers to resume work on March 23

CHENNAI: The joint action committee of advocates which met here on Thursday decided to temporarily suspend the boycott and resume court work in the State from March 23.

The committee demanded that the Tamil Nadu Government implement the order of the Madras High Court of March 18 forthwith. The decision was taken after advocates took out a procession welcoming the High Court order and condemning police action against advocates in the Madras High Court on February 19.

While mindful of its obligations to follow the High Court order, the State government is taking steps to ensure that the morale of the police force is not affected. The government has noted that the Madras High Court, which observed that advocates did not have the right to strike, has not said that police officials, whom it wanted suspended, should not appeal in the Supreme Court.

Senior officials and top elected functionaries in government pointed out that Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi’s statement that the officers who are to be suspended could seek legal redress made it clear that the government had considered all aspects of the incident before coming out with a considered view on the issue.

The officials and the functionaries said that three main factors had to be taken into consideration: ensure that advocates get back to work at the earliest, not allow the morale of the police to sag and also respect the verdict of the High Court.

After the court order, Mr. Karunanidhi held extensive discussions with his senior Cabinet colleagues, and officials including Chief Secretary K.S. Sripathi, on Wednesday before the government finalised its plan on how best to implement the High Court order.

When it was pointed out that many in the police force felt that the DMK government was not even-handed when it came to taking action against advocates who had resorted to arson and set fire to a police station, senior officials pointed out that a CBI enquiry was already on. Cases were registered against all acts of violence and obstruction of duty.

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