Hyderabad, October 24: The ongoing agitation by lawyers of Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema demanding High Court benches in the two regions took a new turn with the court taking a serious view of the strike and asking district judges to take steps for the smooth functioning of courts.
A two-page circular was sent out by the High Court registrar to district judges to this effect. But the striking lawyers said there was no question of calling off the strike unless their demand was met.
Functioning of courts in the two regions, particularly in Krishna and Guntur districts, has been paralysed for a week with advocates striking work, some of them even launching a fast unto death. The stir first began in Krishna for a bench between Vijayawada and Guntur and soon was joined by lawyers from Rayalaseema with a similar demand.
The High Court circular made it clear that presiding officers of courts should act firmly and make every effort to proceed with judicial work if persuasion fails.
Meanwhile, law minister Mopideveni Venkataramana appealed to the lawyers to call off their stir, saying the government was open to examining the demand since it was a long-pending and genuine one. “However, various isues need to be considered. It also involves the state and central governments, the High Court and the Supreme Court. Therefore, expecting a decision immediately is not fair,” he told mediapersons in Vijayawada.
The minister pointed out that since the demand for a bench between Vijayawada and Guntur was made, similar pleas are being made in Rayalaseema and north Coastal Andhra. The government might consider forming a committee to study the demand after consulting the stakeholders, he said.Notwithstanding the circular to district judges to firmly deal with the agitation for a High Court bench in Coastal Andhra or Rayalaseema, agitating lawyers appear determined to continue boycotting the courts in support of their demand.
After receipt of the circular, presiding officers reportedly held discussions with the representatives of bar associations but they did not yield any result. In fact, the striking advocates sought a draw a distinction by stating that they have been staying away from work en masse and not boycotting the courts.
Vijayawada Bar Association president Chalasani Ajay Kumar said they have received a circular advising them to remove the protest shamianas from the court premises. “We have launched a relay fast on the premises of the Bar Association and not the court premises. We are not violating any court order,” he maintained.
According to Ajay Kumar, the Joint Action Committee of the lawyers would meet on Monday to finalise the future course of action.
It is proposed to stage rasta rokos and call for a day’s bandh in support of the demand. Laywers expected visiting law minister M Venkataramana to call on the fasting lawyers but the minister avoided doing so and instead proceeded to the state guest house where he addressed mediapersons.
–Agencies