The advocates covering their mouth with black ropes went around the high court campus and later staged a demonstration near one of the entrances.
The protest led to brief traffic disruption in the busy NSC Bose Road in the locality.
The lawyers also stayed away from courts in response to the call given by the Madras High Court Advocates Association. A section of lawyers attended the court proceedings in Chennai.
The lawyers are demanding unconditional withdrawal of recently amended rules to the Advocates Act, which among others provides for disciplinary action against erring lawyers.
The court has appointed a five-judge committee to hear the grievances of the lawyers over the amended rules.