'Hearing of sex scandal to be shifted to Jammu'

Jammu, Jun 29: The Jammu Bar Association (JBA) today demanded the hearing of high profile sex scandal case be shifted to Jammu as the atmosphere has turned undemocratic and 'right of defence of a accused' is being denied in Srinagar.

Meanwhile the lawyers of High Court ans lower court here went on an indefinite strike against denial of right of defence and threat issued to lawyers in Srinagar while representing their clients.

The JBA called an urgent meeting of its excutive body today under the chairmanship of president V R Wazir and decided to continue its agitation till their demand were met.

The Bar Association members, in meeting, were of the unanimous view to request the Chief Justice to ensure that advocates who have been engaged to defend their clients be provided adequate security and to see that the life and liberty of any advocate engaged in sex scandal case is protected.

Later talking to newspersons Mr Wazir said in any democratic set up no one could dare to snatch the right of defence of an accused and it must be restored in the sex scandal case in which a total of 12 accused including two former ministers and sitting legislators, a former state Additional Advocate General and Border Security Force DIG have been charged sheeted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Earlier the Kashmir Bar Association (KBA) in Srinagar has announced that no lawyer will be allowed to represent those arrested or charge sheeted in connection with the scandal.

Advocate duo Anil Sethi and Moulvi Ajaz were publicly humiliated and abused in the court premises making them run away without pleading the case of their clients.

UNI

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