Students of Government Law College boycotted their classes and staged a demonstration to protest against the amendments made by the Madras High Court (HC) to Section 14-A of the Advocates Act, 1960 and to express their solidarity with the agitating lawyers, here today.
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Chennai: Thousands of lawyers protested at the Madras High Court on Monday demanding the immediate withdrawal of recently introduced rules that seek to check unruly behaviour and unethical practices by lawyers.
When the PIL came up for hearing earlier in the day, the bench said the prayer for keeping the rules in abeyance has been answered in view of the said prayer having been sub-served by the resolution of the Full Court dated June 16, followed by a clarification issued by the Committee of five judges on July 22 and published by the print media on July 23. “There is no need for any separate order when the meaning is very clear”, the bench said. He also sought direction to Registrar General to keep the new Rules in abeyance.
CISF, which is in charge of security for the inner precincts of the court complex has also beefed up security. Installation of the CCTVs will prevent the misuse and provide transparency in the judiciary. “Your apprehension is that action will be initiated as per rules”.
He further said that when representatives of various bar associations and Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry approached the court and expressed their apprehension, they were advised to make a representation to the Rules Committee, formed to look into their objections.
The release said even the Bar Council had certain views about the newly-notified disciplinary rules for lawyers, but it would like to hold discussions with the high court and its rules committee along with Bar leaders and Bar Council members. Such grounds include browbeating or abusing judges, laying siege to court halls, tamper with court records, appearing in court under the influence of alcohol.
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Given the exigency of the situation, the bench directed advocate general to obtain instruction installing CCT cameras for district courts across the State can be implemented across the board on an urgent basis and accordingly funds sanctioned for the project.
