Murder of Advocate: Bar Council of India Urges Rajasthan Government To Issue Guidelines For Protection of Lawyers; Asks Lawyers To End Strike
(Judicial Quest News Network)
Hyderabad: The Bar Council of India (BCI) on Saturday urged the Rajasthan State Government to pass a law for protection of advocates and their families.
On Thursday the Rajasthan High Court had sought response from Union of India, Rajasthan government, Bar Council of India and Bar Council of Rajasthan on issuance of guidelines by the court for the protection of advocates till appropriate legislation is framed in this regard.
This is in the light of the gruesome murder of an Advocate in the State in the broad day light and the consequent strike by Lawyers.
A press release issued by BCI states that “The issue with regard to strike by Lawyers of Rajasthan has been discussed and the Council has considered it seriously. Pursuant to the Order dated 2nd March, 2023 passed by Hon’ble High Court of Rajasthan in D.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 3188 of 2023, the Hon’ble Chairman, Bar Council of India has contacted the learned Presidents and Secretaries of the High Court Bar Associations at Jodhpur and Jaipur both. Hon’ble Chairman, Bar Council of India also called some other the Leaders of Bar of the State of Rajasthan.”
Earlier the Rajasthan High Court had taken a Suo Moto Cognizance of the strike and asked the BCI, Bar Council of Rajasthan and others to discuss and resolve the issue.
The division bench of the Acting Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice Anil Kumar Upman was hearing a PIL filed in 2020 on the issue of framing of appropriate legislation for the protection of the lawyers.
The strike and boycott of several courts of Rajasthan is continuing for last several days due to the brutal murder of an Advocate in broad day light. It was also informed that this was not a solitary incident, rather on several previous occasions also, such attacks have been made and the lawyers were killed.
Mr. Suresh Chand Shrimali, Member, Bar Council of India from the State of Rajasthan has vehemently advocated for passing of a law for the protection of Advocates of the State. Mr. Shrimali further states that because of the frequent unfortunate attacks on Advocates, the Bar Associations have taken the resort of strikes/boycotts. And subsequently Mr. Shrimali recused himself from the meeting showing his disagreement with the final part of this resolution.
The press release said “The state Bar Council shall take all effective measures to implement the aforesaid direction: & it shall forward its report to the Secretary, Bar Council of Rajasthan could be made acquainted with the latest developments”
The Council requests and directs the State Bar Council of Rajasthan to take appropriate measures and to ensure that the strike/boycott is called off before 9th March, 2023. The State Bar Council shall take all effective measures to implement the aforesaid direction; and it shall forward its report to the Secretary, Bar Council of India latest by the evening of 8th March, 2023, so that Hon’ble High Court of Rajasthan could be made acquainted with the latest developments.
