Kashmir Bar to boycott CJI's function tomorrow

Srinagar, Jun 17 (UNI) The Kashmir Bar Association (KBA) today said it will boycott a legal awareness campaign to be launched by Chief Justice of India Justice K G Balakrishnan here tomorrow.

In a statement here, the KBA said a legal function has been turned into a political gathering.

The Bar also said that it stood by its earlier decision to boycott all official functions.

It criticised the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal for withholding the cheques of claimants so as to be distributed by the Chief Justice of India.

The KBA said several cheques, which were to be distributed among the beneficiaries following decisions taken by Lok Adalats in March this year, had been held back to be distributed by Justice Balakrishnan.

The Chief Justice will inaugurate the Legal Awareness Campaign, 2007-08 at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) here tomorrow.

Jammu and Kashmir Governor Lt Gen (Retd) S K Sinha, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, NALSA Executive Chairman Justice Ashok Bhan will also attend the function organised by the Jammu and Kashmir State Legal Services Authority.

UNI