Peer’s death: Raj lawyers to boycott courts indefinitely

Jaipur: The agitating lawyers seeking advocates’ protection Act have decided to intensify their stir by calling for an indefinite boycott from Monday. The lawyers have decided to gherao the state assembly on March 10.
Lawyers have been boycotting the courts since February 19 following the murder of colleague Jugraj Chauhan in Jodhpur. They have sought adequate compensation for the deceased lawyer’s kin and for bringing the advocates’ protection bill as promised by the Congress party in its manifesto.
Government sources said the Bar Council of India has prepared a draft for the advocate protection bill which is being circulated in all bar associations so that a central law can be made for the protection of lawyers, hence the delay.
Meanwhile, acting chief justice MM Shrivastav has called a meeting of state advocate general, additional solicitor general of India and High Court Bar Association office bearers to end the deadlock. The court on Monday expressed its displeasure over the non-appearance of lawyers representing the Centre while state government lawyers are attending the courts.
The bar association Jaipur general secretary Manoj Kumar Sharma said if the demand is not met before March 10, lawyers across the state will converge in Jaipur and march towards the assembly.
The High Court Bar Association and the Bar Association Jaipur in separate statements said they would organise various agitational programmes in the coming days.
On February 28 every bar association will organise ‘Sundarkand’ on their respective premises.
On March 1 ‘Sadbuddhi Yagya would be held followed by public meetings on March 2. A Mahapanchyat of lawyers will be held at the high court premises in Jaipur on March 3.
Siddarth Jain Mutha, a lawyer claimed that the hearing of about 80,000 cases has been affected due to the lawyers’ boycott of courts. tnn