HC asks TN govt to form commitee for police-advocate problems

Chennai, Nov 8 (UNI) Madras High Court today directed the Tamil Nadu Government to constitute a state level committee to deal exclusively with problems between police and advocates.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice A P Shah and Mr Justice K Chandru gave the directive while disposing of a petition filed by Madras High Court Advocates Association (MHAA) by its President R C Paul Kanagaraj, seeking a direction to the chief secretary and Home Secretary to appoint state level and district level committees to deal exclusively with problems between police and advocates.

The Bench observed that the committee was the need of the hour as the court could not afford to lose precious judicial time due to frequent court boycotts by advocates.

Stating that constituting a state-level committee would be enough, the bench said the committee would be headed by two judges of Madras High Court and the senior among them would be the chairman.

Other members would be the Advocate General, Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, Additional DGP/IGP Law and Order, Chairman, Bar Council of Tamil Nadu, President, MHAA, Chairperson, Federation of District and Subordinate Courts Bar Association of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry in Erode. The High Court Registrar General (RG) would coordinate the meeting of the committee and the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu Chairman would assist him in conducting the meeting and recording minutes.

The bench said the committee would receive complaints relating to assault or ill treatment of any advocate at the hands of police. It would be referred to the RG by members of the respective bar association or by the State Bar Council/District Judges including the Principal judge, City Civil Court. On receipt of the complaint, the matter would be placed before the State Level Committee Chairman. A meeting would then be convened and appropriate directions given.

The committee would arrive at conclusions and recommendations.

The judges directed the state government to issue an order constituting the committee within two weeks.

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