HC adjourns hearing of PIL against entry of foreign law firms

Chennai, Jan 24 (PTI) The Madras High court today said itwould take a decision on a PIL challenging entry of foreignlaw firms to India on March 8 and adjourned the matter.

Hearing a PIL filed by Balaji,an advocate,challenging entryof foreign law firms into the country and seeking a writ ofmandamus to the Centre to take action against foreign lawfirms practising ''illegally'' in India, a division benchcomprising Chief Justice M Y Eqbal and Justice T S Sivagnanamsaid the court would take a decision on it after hearing fromconcerned parties.

P S Raman, Advocate General, who appeared for the BarCouncil of India, submitted that the BCI would be convening ameeting on 29th of this month to take a stand on whetherforeign law firms would be allowed in India or not and acounter affidavit would be filed after the meeting.

Abishek Manu Singhvi, who appeared for the law firms,pleaded to dispose the matter at the earliest. However,Additional Solicitor General M Ravindran, who appeared onbehalf of the Ministry of Law and Justice, sought a week�stime to file their counter.