The state-wide boycott call given by some lawyers' bodies in protest against the suspension of 15 advocates by Bar Council of India evoked a mixed response today with an estimated over 50 per cent attendance being reported in the Madras High Court and its bench in Madurai.
Court sources said attendance by lawyers in all courts in Southern districts of Tamil Nadu was more than 50 per cent and work was carried out normally. However, in Coimbatore district, about 5,000 advocates boycotted court proceedings, they said.
Madras High Court Advocates Association president R C Paul Kanakaraj, however, claimed the MHAA boycott call was a huge success.
"The boycott call by MHAA is not against the judiciary or judges but only against Bar Council of India which suspended the advocates without any prior notice," he told PTI.
An official of Madurai High Court Advocates Association also claimed the boycott was a success.
When the court met for the day, Additional Solicitor General of India G Rajagopalan sought a direction to BCI for dissolution of Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
The bench comprised Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice T S Sivagnanam.
The ASG informed the court that six members of this Bar had taken part in protest meetings at Tiruchirapallil yesterday.
"If members of the statutory body who have to take disciplinary action against erring lawyers themselves participate in the protest, then who will take action?" he said.
The ASG submitted the boycott call given by MHAA itself is illegal as no notice was given before 21 days to convene its General Body meeting.
The bench then directed the ASG to file a written affidavit in the above connection and said it would consider it.
Meanwhile, a Coimbatore report quoting police said about 3,000 advocates boycotted courts there, while about 2,000 abstained from attending courts in Valparai, Pollachi and Mettupalayam. They also demanded revocation of suspension of the advocates.
The agitation against the mandatory helmet order of the Madurai bench of the HC had taken a serious turn as advocates levelled serious charges against a section of the judiciary openly, with some carrying placards and raising slogans.
In Chennai a section of advocates had organised protests at the High court hall, demanding use of Tamil as official language. They also sought withdrawal of cases registered against advocates in this regard.
BCI had suspended 15 advocates, including Secretary of Madurai Bar Association A K Ramasamy and its president P Dharmaraj, who are facing contempt proceedings.
On September 24, it had intimated Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and directed all 15 on October 4 to appear before its disciplinary committee in the premises of Bar Council of Karnataka.
