Advocates boycott work at Dist Courts

Dehradun, January 20

Advocates boycotted work at the District Courts today in protest against the proposed Higher Education and Research Bill to be tabled in the Lok Sabha by the Government of India.

The strike was observed by the Dehradun Bar Association on a call given by the Uttarakhand Bar Council.

Chairpersons of all state bar councils and the Bar Council of India will meet on January 23 in New Delhi to chalk out their next strategy to put pressure on the Centre to withdraw the Bill.

Surinder Pundir, an advocate, said: “Judicial dispensation will become costly if the Bill is introduced as foreign law firms will be able to get licence to fight cases in the country and will charge higher fee from clients. They will also wield unlimited power as they will be out of the purview of the state bar councils and the Bar Council of India. The provisions of the Advocate Act, 1961, will also be defeated.”

He said this would not only hamper the interests of the advocates across the country but would also constrict the possibility of affordable justice to the poor.