Date:21/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/21/stories/2008082150360300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Udhagamandalam

Advocates commence boycott of courts

Special Correspondent

Against delay in arresting forest ranger who behaved in ‘high handed manner’

Udhagamandalam: Members of the Nilgiri Bar Association (NBA) boycotted all the courts in the Nilgiris district on Wednesday.

This action was carried out in protest against the delay in arresting a forest ranger S.G.Sunderaraj who had allegedly behaved in a high handed manner with a woman lawyer Malini Prabhakar on Tuesday.

Offences

It is alleged that the woman lawyer had gone to the Judicial Magistrate’s court with her client who was allegedly involved in two forest offences.

An FIR under Section 307 was also registered against him for allegedly attempting to murder the lawyer by ramming his jeep against her car.

At an extraordinary general body meeting with the President of the NBA Y.B.Bheeman in the chair, the members resolved to condemn the failure of the police to arrest Mr. Sunderrajan despite an FIR being registered and “allowing him to escape along with his driver”.

The meeting also demanded the immediate transfer of the Deputy Superintendent of Police Nainar Mohammed and Inspector of Police Thirumeni for “facilitating their escape”.

Describing a counter complaint filed by Mr.Sunderrajan against Ms.Malini and her senior Johnson Pandian as false, it was resolved to demand its withdrawal.

By another resolution the members decided to boycott all courts till August 22 and review the situation on August 25.

Intervention

It was also decided to seek the intervention of the State Human Rights Commissioner and support of the Chairman, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, Subordinate Courts, Advocates Federation.

In a statement, Mr.Bheeman said that the advocates had to resort to strong measures like road roko because the police had failed to arrest the ranger.

Instead of arresting him a counter complaint had been obtained.

Pointing out that only the advocates can champion the cause of the people, he said that the people should always be conscious of their rights.

Adverting to the incidents related to the road roko, he claimed that if the police had acted quickly and fairly, they would not have occurred.

The advocates wanted the police to arrest them since they had refused to arrest the ranger.

With the police not doing so the situation got out of hand.

Meanwhile the Superintendent of Police, the Nilgiri s A.G.Babu said that the incident in which the lawyer and the forest official were involved was under investigation.

To a question that was put to him, he said that stringent action would be taken against those staging road blockade agitations.