Lawyers on strike for 2nd consecutive day over CrPC

Lawyers stayed away from courts in New Delhi for the second consecutive day to protest against the CrPC amendments giving police the discretion to arrest an accused in offences punishable with seven-year jail term.

Lawyers stayed away from courts in New Delhi for the second consecutive day on Wednesday to protest against the CrPC amendments giving police the discretion to arrest an accused in offences punishable with seven-year jail term.

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The call for the nationwide strike of lawyers was given last month following a decision in a meeting of different bar associations in New Delhi.

This is the sixth time that the lawyers in Capital have decided not to appear in courts to demand scrapping of what they call "anti-people and anti-social" amendments in the Criminal Procedure Code.

There is a complete strike in subordinate courts as well as several High Courts across the country, said a spokesperson of Co-ordination Committee All Bar Associations of Delhi, resenting the "indifferent" attitude of the government towards their demands.

They have organised a march on the Parliament Street to lodge their protest on the issue.

The Delhi High Court Bar Association office-bearers including its President and Secretary have also decided to sit on a hunger strike in support of their counterparts' demands.

The bar leaders feel that the amendment, doing away with the mandatory arrest provisions, would remove fear from the minds of criminals who would misuse the amendment under the garb of personal liberty.