‘The image of the Bar is being tarnished by the unruly advocates, who have drawn flak from all sections’
Taking a firm stand against the ongoing boycott of
courts across Tamil Nadu, the Bar Council of India (BCI) on Wednesday
issued an ultimatum to the office-bearers of advocates’ associations who
are leading the agitation against certain amendments to the Advocates
Act.
The BCI has urged them to call off their strike
by Friday or face suspension from legal practice. The BCI has also
directed the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry to communicate the
names of all the leaders or office-bearers of the striking Bar
Associations latest by July 22 so that orders of suspension and
disqualification could be passed.
Observing that the
boycott had led to a situation which was “alarming,” the BCI said, “the
image of the Bar is being tarnished to a great extent because of such
unruly advocates. The Bar Councils and Bar Associations are being
criticised, not only by the judiciary and the government, but also by
majority of members of the legal fraternity and public at large.”
After
receiving the communication from the BCI, the Chairman of Bar Council
of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry D. Selvam appealed to the boycotting
advocates to return to the courts.
A total of 151 Bar Associations across the State are said to be participating in the boycott.
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