Chennai: Close on the heels of the joint action committee (JAC) of advocates deciding to withdraw court boycott, the Bar Council of India (BCI) has stayed the suspension of 126 advocates.
The list includes P. Thirumalairajan, chief coordinator of joint action committee (JAC), M. Velmurugan, former member of Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and secretary, Madras high court advocates association (MHAA), Arivazhagan.
The JAC had decided to picket the Madras high court on July 25 demanding withdrawal of new disciplinary rules by the high court.
Despite BCI warning, a large number of advocates led by JAC staged a demonstration and attempted to gherao the high court on July 25. Angered over this, BCI suspended 126 lawyers, including various lawyers association leaders.
Meanwhile, JAC in a meeting on August 14, resolved to withdraw the agitation and said advocates would resume their work from August 16 and the committee's executive would be held in the last week of August to assess the follow ups.
Considering the facts, BCI on Tuesday stayed the suspension order dated July 23 and directed the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry to file a report with regarding to the attendance of lawyers in courts in Tamil Nadu. If the report confirmed that advocates had returned to work peacefully, BCI will pass final orders on August 22.
