Lawyers spar amid protests against new criminal laws

Madurai/Trichy: A scuffle between two groups of advocates in front of the Madurai district court marred the one-day boycott and hunger strike held in several parts of the state on Monday seeking withdrawal of the three new criminal laws which came into effect on July 1 replacing Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure and Indian Evidence Act.
A section of advocates practising before the Madurai district court boycotted court proceedings and were observing a fast in front of the main entrance of the district court campus.Meanwhile, another group of advocates came to the area raising slogans in support of the three new laws. There was an argument and scuffle between the two groups. Following talks held by representatives of the Bar association, the issue was resolved. Police personnel were deployed in and around the district court campus.
In Trichy, advocates of Tiruchirappalli bar association and criminal court advocates association boycotted court and joined the hunger strike called by joint advocates associations council (JAAC) of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in front of the courts. In the city, the advocates sat on a hunger strike in front of the district court campus. Advocates in Thuraiyur, Manapparai and Musiri also undertook the protests in front of their respective courts.
Criminal courts advocates association treasurer advocate S R Kishorekumar said provisions of the three criminal acts have been altered to expedite trial of cases for faster judgment without strengthening the infrastructure in the judiciary.