Madras High Court directs Centre to rein in lawyers

Chennai: Coming down heavily on the people in black and white dress acting like mafia and indulging in kidnapping, extortion and other heinous crimes, taking advantage of their alleged status as lawyers — as the police are also afraid of taking action against them fearing adverse consequences — the Madras high court has directed the Union government to take appropriate steps to set right the legal profession based on the recommendations of the law commission.

Justice N.Kirubakaran gave the directive while passing interim orders on the petitions filed by 146 students of Annai Medical College and Hospital in Sriperumbadur. After it was brought to the notice of the court by senior counsel A.Sirajudeen, appearing for the students that lawyers were engaged to take possession of the college, the judge said, “It is neither surprising nor shocking for this court to hear about engagement of so called 'Advocates'” to retain possession by the original trustees or to take forcible possession of the medical college, based on certain court orders.

 “It is the usual modus operandi of any party who wants to take forcible possession or retain possession, engaging certain persons called “Advocates”, wearing black and white dress, as hooligans and who are capable of threatening and resisting even the police force. This trend is prevalent for the past few years in Tamil Nadu. It is a classic case to demonstrate as to why the people do not exhibit their faith either in the judiciary or in the police and have faith only on the persons in “black and white dress” claiming themselves as advocates, to be engaged as “paid hooligans” to involve in property disputes”, the judge added.