Federation of Bar Assn of TN, Puducherry withdraw boycott call

The Federation of Bar Associations of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry today withdrew their one-day boycott of courts on March 24.
The Federation had called for the boycott in protest against advocates practising in lower courts not being considered for appointment as judges of High Court.
Paramasivam, Chairman, Federation of Bar Associations of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, said the decision to withdraw the boycott call was taken after the Federation came to know that the subject was already decided by the Supreme Court constitutional Bench in the matter of National Judicial Appointment Commission (for the Appointment of Judges of High Court and Supreme Court).

Only after the federation called for a boycott, the Bar Council of India had brought to its knowledge that the issue was argued before the Supreme Court, which had rejected the plea to give adequate representation to the lawyers practicing in the districts, he said in a release.
"Therefore, on behalf of lawyers practicing in the districts, the Federation is likely to a file a review or fresh petition before the Supreme Court in this matter.
"Accepting the request of the Bar Council of India and Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, the Federation decided to withdraw the boycott call," the release said.

After the boycott call was given by the Federation, the Bar Council of India had declared the proposed boycott of courts by Tamil Nadu lawyers onMarch 24as illegal, and threatened to initiate disciplinary action against bar leaders organising the protest and the lawyers participating in it.