Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Mar 23: Vice-chairman of Karnataka State Bar Council, P P Hegde, said that the lawyers across all the courts in the state will sport red badges on March 24, in protest against the Legal Practitioners ( Regulations and Maintenance etc ) Act, 2010 proposed to be passed by the central government.

“At present, total control and absolute power to hold disciplinary proceedings against the lawyers vests with the Bar Council, which is elected by the advocates themselves. None of the courts have this power. As a result, the lawyers have been able to function independently. Bar Associations all over the country have been fighting against corrupt judicial officers. The new law proposes to arm the High Courts and tribunals having retired judges of the district courts as members, with powers to examine complaints and punish advocates facing complaints of wrongdoing. As per the new law, if any of the litigants complains against the use of powers by the Bar Council, the Consumers Tribunal has been given the power to hold inquiry and take disciplinary against the concerned lawyers, Hegde explained.

The proposal to give absolute powers to take action against the lawyers to retired judges is anti-constitutional. This will force the lawyers to always work under a sense of fear about the judges. The proposed law is detrimental to the system of delivery of justice. The lawyers demand that this bill should never be moved in the Lok Sabha, and it should be immediately be withdrawn. Supporting these demands, the advocates will hold protests in all the courts in Karnataka, and submit memorandums to the respective deputy commissioner, Chief Minister, and union minister for law, Hegde said in a release.