Amendments to Advocates Act: HC advises lawyers to move SC

The Madras High Court today advised advocates to approach the Supreme Court if they have any grievances on the amendments to the Advocate's Act.
The first bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice R Mahadevan gave the advice when G Krishnamoorthy, an advocate, told the court that his juniors were allegedly prevented from attending the subordinate courts by the agitating lawyers.
Krishnamoorthy also requested the Chief Justice to extend the present CISF security to the entire court complex, which is now restricted only to High Court area.
The bench told the advocates who were in the court hall that the amendments were made as per the directions of the Supreme Court. If they have any grievances, they could approach the apex court, they said.

Some senior advocates, who were in the court hall, then objected to the complaint by Krishnamoorthy and informed the bench that no advocate was prevented from attending the court and he was was trying to get popularity by raking some issue.
They said Krishnamoorthy was in the habit of raking issues and trying to become popular and submitted that he had recently filed a bail plea on behalf of the accused in the Swathi murder case without getting his consent.

Swathi, employed with IT major Infosys, was found murdered on a platform in Numgambakkam railway station here while she was waiting to board a train on her way to office around 6:30 AM on June 24.

The accused Ramkumar was arrested in connection with the murder on July one.
The High Court had in May issued a notification making amendments to existing rules under the Advocates Act with a view to ensure peaceful conduct of court proceedings and suggesting disciplinary action to be taken against erring advocates.
A section of advocates were on strike since June 28 demanding unconditional withdrawal of the amended rules to the Advocates Act.
The Chief Justice said already the state government had declared the High Court premises as high security zone and if the CISF security has to be extended to the entire premises, funding for it would be a problem.

The Madras High Court was under the cover of Central Industrial Security Force from November last year.