Over 1 lakh lawyers abstain from work in Bihar

PATNA: More than one lakh advocates across Bihar including those in the Patna High Court abstained from work today in support of their demand to allow state vigilance in subordinate judiciary to curb 'prevailing corruption.'

Due to the one-day stir, over 10,000 lawyers in Patna High Court did not attend courts today while the situation was similar in district courts across the state.

Bihar State Bar Council Chairman Akhouri Mangla Charan Shrivastava told PTI that the agitation has been called in support of their demand for allowing state vigilance in subordinate judiciary to curb prevailing corruption as was the arrangement till 1977.

He said two days back, the Patna High Court administration acting on our memorandum had intimated us about the decision to set up a Rules Committee to look into the matter.

The Chairman of Bar Council said that inspite of request of Council several times, the Patna High Court administration did not act forcing State Bar Council to resort to agitation.

Officiating Secretary of the Bar Council Ashok Kumar said that vigilance should be allowed in the Subordinate courts to deal with cases of corruption which has tarnished the image of the judiciary.

He said if the demand was not met, the Council would take a decision to intensify their agitation in support of the demand in future.