Lawyers abstain from work, to meet chief justice of HC

Lawyers on Wednesday stayed away from district courts here in protest against "eviction" of their colleagues by a judicial officer.

Lawyers in Patiala House, Tis Hazari, Karkardooma, Rohini and Dwarka courts abstained from work, paralysing the functioning of the courts, claimed an office-bearer of the bar association. However, in some courts, lawyers appeared without their bands to mark their protest.

The lawyers also decided to meet the Delhi High Court's chief justice to demand formation of a committee to ensure smooth functioning of the courts.

"The co-ordination committee of all Bar Associations of Delhi will meet chief justice to request him to form grievances committee of judges and representatives of bar in each court to monitor complaints so as to ensure congenial atmosphere and smooth functioning of courts for proper dispensation of justice," Rajiv Khosla, spokesman of the Committee, said.

The lawyers body had on Tuesday given a call for abstention from courts against the action taken by an additional district judge at Dwarka courts against "eviction" of two members of the Delhi Bar Association.

However, court sources said the judge had only ordered the police to take one lawyer out of the courtroom as he was shouting and could not be pacified. The lawyer's father, who is also a practising advocate, had intervened when the incident took place.