Lawyers oppose BCI's recommendation to bar them from strike

A section of lawyers today opposed the recommendations of country's apex advocates' body to the Law Commission of India (LCI) for barring them from going on strike.
The Coordination Committee of All the District Court Bar Associations of Delhi said the proposed suggestions of the Bar Council of India (BCI) to prohibit advocates from going on strike, boycotting or abstaining from work in courts and imposition of penalty on them, would curtail their "democratic rights".
The committee alleged that the BCI's recommendations were sent without consultation with other bar associations and were arbitrary and wrong.
It said the members have decided to hold a demonstration in front of the BCI office on March 23 where they are likely to burn the effigy of BCI chairman Manan Kumar Mishra.

"It has been unanimously resolved to strongly condemn and vigorously oppose the divisive act of BCI chairman to recommend the changes in the Advocates Act in banning strikes and imposing penalties on the striking advocates.
"The strike/abstain from work is fundamental right of every citizen including lawyers and therefore proposed amendments are against the provisions of Constitution. It is felt that BCI chairman is acting under some kind of pressure or with some ulterior motive," Committee's chairman B S Jakhar said.

The committee also asked the Centre to take immediate decision upon getting the Judicial Accountability Bill passed in Parliament and take other measures to deal with judicial corruption and nepotism in the judicial system.

The BCI has given detailed suggestions to the LCI, which is drafting amendments to the Advocates Act on a reference made to it by the Supreme Court.
The apex lawyer's body in its suggestion said that the law should be amended to statutorily prohibit lawyers from boycotting or abstaining from work in courts.