Mangalore: Advocates Abstain from Court in Protest Against Proposed Bills
 
Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (PS)
 
Mangalore, Jul 11: The city's advocate fraternity abstained from duty on Wednesday Julu 11 to protest against the introduction of Higher Education and Research Bill 2011 of the union ministry of human resource development, which they claimed to be ‘draconian’ in nature.
 
Taking out a rally from the district court premises to the DC’s office, the advocates condemned the Higher Education and Research Bill 2011, the National Accreditation Regulatory Authority for Higher Educational Institutions Act 2010, the Foreign Educational Institutions Bill, the Prohibition of Unfair Practices in Higher Educational Institution Bill, the National Law Schools Bill, and Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill 2012.

Prior to the commencement of the rally senior advocate G K Parameshwar Jois addressing the protestors said that the proposed bills provide for total control of the legal education by a national commission for higher education and research thereby taking away the power of the Bar Council of India. He questioned the move of the central government and said if legal professionals’ freedom is taken away, what will happen to the freedom of the common people.
 
Mangalore BAR Association president S P Changappa addressing the advocates in front of the DC’s office said that till sate any discrepancy with regard to the attitude of lawyers was brought to the notice of the state bar council and Bar Council of India, but with the proposed bills the government is trying to curb the independence of the legal profession and and have direct control over the lawyers, the legal profession and legal education. He said instead of these bills, the central government should pass Jan Lokayukta Bill.
 
"The proposed foreign educational institutions bill gives room for foreign law professionals to practice in India, however, it does not allow Indian law professionals to practice abroad. There are chances of foreign advocates charging unreasonable fees amount from the petitioners," he said, adding that though the two-day protest would keep away the advocates from the court, there will not be any interruption to the court proceedings.
 
Effigy of Kapil Sibal, union human resource development minister, was burnt to express discontentment over the proposed bills. A memorandum addressed to the prime minister of India, urging the drop to be dropped, handed over to the DC.
 
Advocates P P Hegde, Suman Sharan among others were present.