Advocates pledge support to Surathkal tollgate stir

Mangaluru: Amid concerted efforts by activists fighting to get the National Highway tollgate at Surathkal vacated, with an action plan being deliberated upon by people of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts fighting under the banner of the ‘Action Committee Against Surathkal Tollgate’, more than 60 lawyers have offered legal assistance to the protesters. The lawyers have promised unconditional legal assistance in the event of any of the protesters being booked by the law enforcement authorities.
The action committee is currently working on finalising the plan for a dharna scheduled to be staged on October 18. Former president of the Mangalore Bar Association, SP Chengappa said that the lawyers had conferred with one another on the strategy to be adopted to lend legal aid to those protesting for the removal of the tollgate.
“The legal community has extended its complete support to the action committee. They have been fighting to have the tollgate evicted for the past six years. But the government continues to pay no heed to their plea. Failure on the part of the government to take corrective action may lead to the fight magnifying in the future,” Chengappa said.
Fellow lawyer, Dinesh Hegde Ulepady said, “Like-minded advocates, after a meeting held to discuss this very issue, resolved to extend legal assistance to the protesters. We will not only participate in the stir, but offer legal aid to those booked for their stance vis-à-vis the issue. We are confident this demonstration will yield desired results.”
Former Rajya Sabha MP and lawyer, B Ibrahim too assured the protesters of the legal fraternity’s unstinting support to the cause, while advocate R Padmaraj charged the authorities of cheating the public under the pretext of toll collection. “union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari has promised to close the toll gate, and we expect him to keep his word before the dharna scheduled on October 18,” Padmaraj said.
Another lawyer, Yashwant Maroli said several senior advocates of the erstwhile undivided Dakshina Kannada district had pledged their support to the fight.