TBA stir demanding Bench hits work in Dist Court

Thiruvananthapuram, May 24: Work in the district court here came to a standstill today as members of the Trivandrum Bar Association intensified their stir demanding a High Court Bench in the capital.

As part of the agitation entering the 100th day, gates of this and the adjoining courts were not opened, denying entry to advocates and their clients.

Association President and Chairman of the agitation committee C K Seetharam told the sources that all members, including advocate clerks and bench clerks boycotted the court proceedings, expressing solidarity with the Association's demand.

''We have taken all precautions and informed the clients ahead of the strike, as it was in public interest,'' he said.

As no bench clerk reported for work, no case would come up before the court, he added.

Mr Seetharam warned that if the demand for setting up a Bench was not met, they would continue the ongoing stir indefinitely and would boycott the court proceedings permanently.

However, police said that they kept one of the eight gates of the court complex open, to enable judicial officials and those who wanted to enter the premises.

UNI