Date:17/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/17/stories/2008101750720300.htm

Tamil Nadu

Judges’ appointment: priority sought for lawyers from rural areas

Staff Reporter

Lawyers boycott courts protesting ‘genocide’ in Lanka

Photo: N. Bashkaran

Raising voice: Members of Krishnagiri Bar Association staging a demonstration before the district court in Krishnagiri on Thursday. —

KRISHNAGIRI: The Krishnagiri Bar Association has demanded that lawyers in rural areas should be given priority in appointment of High Court judges.

Addressing newsmen in front of Krishnagiri District Court complex after a demonstration against genocide of Tamils in Sri Lanka, association president A. Asokan said, “only those advocates practising in urban areas and metropolitan cities are considered for appointment as High Court Judges.

Those working in rural areas know the pulse of the people and real justice will prevail only when they are given enough representation in the appointments. We request the government and the judicial administration to look into this.”

“Power cut affected day-to-day work and also the smooth functioning of the courts in the district. Hence, we urge the government to ensure there is no power cut from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.,” he added.

Ceasefire

Mr. Asokan said the association demanded immediate ceasefire in Sri Lanka and urged the Sri Lankan government to stop genocide of Tamils.

Following a call given by the Advocates Association of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, advocates in the State and Union territory are boycotting courts on Thursday and Friday.

More than 500 lawyers in Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts boycotted the courts.

In both the cities, the advocates assembled before the district court complexes and and raised slogans against the Sri Lankan government urging it to stop genocide of Tamils immediately.