Uneasy calm in TN courts as govt issues shoot-at-sight orders

Chennai, Feb 21 (PTI) Shoot-at-sight orders have been
issued and entry of advocates into court complexes banned to
contain spread of the protests even as there was no fresh
incident of violence in India's southern state of Tamil Nadu
Saturday.

Reports received from various parts of the state said after
two days of unrest there was no incident or protest by
advocates today as the courts remained closed for the weekend.

The government ordered the transfer of M Ramasubramani,
Joint Commissioner (North), under whose jurisdiction the high
court falls.

Sporadic incidents of torching of government vehicles and
protests by lawyers were reported from many areas of the state
yesterday though the courts remained closed.

An announcement from the DGP's office said anti-social
elements and miscreants were using the lawyers' agitation as
an excuse to damage public property and burn vehicles. Action
would be taken against those who try to damage vehicles or
involve in other illegal activities, it said.

The advocates were protesting the police action on
February 19 during the violence in the high court which left
over 100 people, including a judge, lawyers and policemen,
injured.

Continuing its crackdown on advocates, police registered
cases against those who indulged in violence during
yesterday's protests in Chennai and Madurai.

Chennai Police registered FIRs against a number of persons
who set on fire a jeep belonging to the Fire Service outside
the high court, for various offences, including arsoning,
rioting and assaulting public servants.

This is in addition to the attempt to murder cases
registered against around 150 advocates in connection with the
February 19 clashes. Police Commissioner K Radhakrishnan told
PTI that some journalists who were assaulted by advocates have
preferred complaints and he had assured "appropriate action."

In Madras High Court, the epicentre of the lawyers unrest,
all entry gates of the sprawling complex remained closed and
only the staff were being allowed to enter. This followed a
decision taken by Acting Chief Justice S J Mukhopadyaya and
communicated to the DGP.

In a high drama late last night, a group of around 60
lawyers declined to leave the high court premises despite the
directive by Justice Mukhopadyaya. They relented only after
Madras High Court Advocates Association President Paul
Kanakaraj persuaded them.

A Madurai report said cases were registered against more
than 20 lawyers for pelting stones at the DIG office complex
when they took out a procession yesterday. Police said no
incident was reported with the courts remaining closed today.

A meeting of the Madurai Bar Association demanded a CBI
enquiry into the action of DIG Krishnamoorthy in "brandishing"
a revolver to scare advocates who pelted stones at the guest
house in his office.

The meeting decided to file a Public Interest Litigation
against the DIG, questioning his action arguing that Madurai
city did not come under his jurisdiction.

Reacting to the lawyers' stand, police said they "cannot
remain mute spectators when lawyers indulge in such a
largescale violence crippling traffic for three hours."

Meanwhile, some senior lawyers charged advocates owing
allegiance to two political parties only were pressing for the
strike on Sri Lankan Tamils issue and others were being forced
to join them. "Only 10 percent of the lawyers are for strike,
others did not want Tamils in Tamil Nadu to suffer.

Judges should intervene and sort out this problem
smoothly, they told PTI.

Disapproving "unruly behaviour" of advocates even inside
court premises, they wondered if Tamil Nadu advocates had any
moral right in seeking a Supreme Court bench in Chennai.

A Coimbatore report said Elaborate security arrangements
have been made in and around the District Court Complex there
and also sub-ordinate courts in the district in the wake of
yesterday's violence in several parts of the state.

Security, including armed guards, has been provided to
the quarters of judges, police and district officials, across
the district, police sources said. PTI SSN
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