Madras HC lawyers boycott talks with government in Chennai

Chennai, Feb 24 (ANI): Striking lawyers today boycotted their first round meeting with the Tamil Nadu Government.

State Law Minister Duraimurugan had called for two meetings with DGP KP Jain and Madras Police Commissioner K Raadhakrishnan also in attendance.

On Monday, around 300 lawyers went on a day-long fast in front of the Madras High Court, a day after their associations decided to indefinitely boycott courts to press for their demands.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had also advanced the hearing of Madras High Court lawyers strike from February 25 to 27.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan decided to hear the matter on Wednesday after the Court was informed that subsequent developments, including a clash between the lawyers and policemen, have taken place.

Over 150 lawyers were arrested on Friday for participating in a protest march outside the Tamil Nadu secretariat. They were agitating against the violence in the Madras High Court complex on Thursday.

Over 100 lawyers were injured outside the Madras High Court after police baton charged them for attacking Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy.

The agitation has led the Supreme Court to issue separate notice to the Registrar General, Madras High Court, the Bar Council of India, the Bar council of Tamil Nadu, the Madras High Court Advocates Association and the Madras Bar Association to explain their decision to boycott high court proceedings. (ANI)