New Delhi

District court lawyers to go on strike today

New Delhi: Work in Delhi’s five district courts is likely to be hit on Wednesday with lawyers announcing a strike to oppose changes in the Cr PC, giving police the discretion to arrest the accused in offences punishable up to a seven-year jail term.

The decision to go on strike was taken at a meeting of Co-ordination Committee of all Bar Associations of Delhi.

“All Bar Associations of Delhi strongly disapprove the anti-public and anti-social amendments in the CrPC whereby the deterrent provisions of law of making arrest mandatory in cognisable offences punishable up to seven years imprisonment has been done away with while giving wide powers to police to arrest or not to arrest,” Rajiv Khosla, spokesperson of the Committee said.

Mr. Khosla, the President of Delhi Bar Association, sought support of lawyers and common people for the strike and said the fight would go on till the amendments were rolled back.

According to the proposed amendments in the Act, which is yet to get President’s assent, no arrest would be required for cognisable offences such as molestation, dowry harassment and attempt to robbery, prescribing maximum punishment of seven years’ jail term, he said. -- PTI

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