HC asks 25 city lawyers to file their reply on March 27

New Delhi, Mar 8 (UNI) The Delhi High Court today ordered 25 advocates of Delhi Bar Association (DBA) to file their replies on March 27, after a contempt of court notice was issued against them for allegedly assaulting judges and staff at the Tis Hazari court complex on February 24.

A five-judge Constitution bench, headed by Chief Justice Markandeya Katju, Justice Vijender Jain, Mukundakam Sharma, Tirath Singh Thakur and Swatanter Kumar observed, ''this was the greatest crime in the history of judiciary and some solution has to be find out for this.'' The court also observed that, according to a Supreme Court ruling, strike by lawyers is illegal. The court would look into their demands if they call off their strike. ''You had to accept the rule of the land and Supreme Court as a whole.'' DBA President Rajiv Khosla, Secretary Sanjeev Nasiar and 23 other lawyers were issued contempt notice for allegedly assaulting and vandalising court property.

Earlier on February 27, the High Court restrained them from coming within 500 m of the premises of the Delhi High Court or the courts subordinate to the Delhi High Court, including the tribunals.

On February 24, striking lawyers, allegedly belonging to DBA, had manhandled staff and ransacked 26 courtrooms at the Tis Hazari complex. The advocates had been on an indefinite strike from January 2 against the setting up of a new district court in Rohini.

UNI XC YA RN1855