Agitated lawyers lock up the high court's main gate

Jammu, Aug 7 (UNI) Hundreds of agitating lawyers today locked up the main gate of Jammu and Kashmir High Court and prevented judges from entering the court complex in their vehicles.

All the judges of high court and other lower court reached their cabin leaving their vehicles outside the gate. The lawyers staged protest dharna in front of Jammu and Kashmir High Court premises at Janipur.

Meanwhile, the indefinite strike of lawyers, demanding transfer of cases relating to high profile sex scandal in the Kashmir valley has been continuing for the past 41 days. The judicial work in local bench of J K High Court and other lower courts here have remained paralysed due to strike.

The lawyers of Jammu region had turned down the appeal of Jammu and Kashmir government to call off the strike. ''We will continue the agitation till our demand of transfer of high profile sex scandal cases for fair trail outside Srinagar was not fulfilled,'' said Mr Vedraj Zazir, President of Bar Association Jammu (BAJ).

The lawyers of Jammu region, who were not participating in the court proceedings since June 28, have decided to observe Jammu bandh on August 11. Various organisations, connected with trade and transport, have extended full support to the agitation launched by BAJ in support of its demand.

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