NO WORK ON JULY 11-12

Lawyers gear up for strike

Swati Deshpande TNN 

Mumbai: Representatives of allthreelawyers’ associations in Bombay high court, which have nearly 5,000 advocates, have met Bombay high court Chief Justice Mohit Shah to informhim aboutthetwo-day strikeon July 11-12. 

    The strike call, which is bound to adversely affect many litigants, especially those who require urgent orders, was given by the Bar Councilof India toopposethe Higher Education and Research Bill, 2011, which seeks totake awaythecontrolofBCI over legal education. It is supported by the Bar Council of Maharashtra andGoa andthe Advocates Association of Western India. The Bombay Bar Association has given no specific command to its memberstoobey thestrikecall,but most lawyers, including senior counsel, could be seen discussing the “dilemma” they faced as many “realized” that the strike was “illegal” and would be flouting a Supreme Court order against such strike by legal practitioners. 

    The SChadin the pastsaid at best a one-day token strike by lawyersfor compelling reasons could be condoned. One litigant in court— when told that the HC would be devoid of lawyersfor twodays—said, “If lawyers resort to strikes for issues that can well be addressed by deliberations, it is indeedshocking and a sadday for thejusticesystem.” 

    Several lawyers were in a quandary whether they ought to go ahead with their trip to other benches in Nagpur and Aurangabad for hearings on July 11-12 asscheduledor stay put in the city. The judges will besitting in court asusual.


Source:::: The Times of India, 10-07-2012, p.04. http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Client.asp?Daily=TOIM&showST=true&login=default&pub=TOI&Enter=true&Skin=TOINEW