Advocates arrested for protest, stir today too

Hyderabad: Tense situation prevailed in the Hyderabad High Court on Thursday, following a call by the High Court Advocates’ Joint Action Committee to abstain from proceedings, protesting the delay by the Centre in allowing separate high courts for Telangna and Andhra Pradesh states.

The court could not take up normal work except urgent cases due to the boycott by the lawyers. Many Telangana advocates practicing in various courts in the state gathered at the High Court to extend support to the ongoing relay hunger strike by Telangana advocates for the past nine days.

As soon as the benches assembled, the advocates boycotted the proceedings and gathered at the main gate of the court. When they tried to squat on the road and raised slogans demanding a separate Telangana High Court, police took them into custody.

A minor scuffle ensued between the police and advocates as they resisted arrest and tried to barge into the premises. The advocates of Seemandhra region also supported the call and abstained.

Police took into custody JAC convener M. Rajender Reddy and High Court Advocates Association secretary P. Krishna Reddy and others. Later the JAC gave a call to lawyers of both states to boycott proceedings even on Friday in protest against the ‘illegal’ arrest by the police