Lawyers call for judicial inquiry

THE CONTROVERSY over the collapse of a porch at the under- construction Advocates? Chambers at the Civil Court refuses to die down. The incident had claimed the lives of two labourers. The Civil Court Bar Association held a meeting on Tuesday in which lawyer demanded a judicial inquiry.

THE CONTROVERSY over the collapse of a porch at the under- construction Advocates’ Chambers at the Civil Court refuses to die down. The incident had claimed the lives of two labourers. The Civil Court Bar Association held a meeting on Tuesday in which lawyer demanded a judicial inquiry.

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Association president Suresh Shukla and others had resigned on Monday. A group of lawyers are now demanding fresh elections to the Bar. A meeting of the association has been called to consider the proposal on April 5. The lawyers will abstain from their routine work.

Meanwhile, State Construction Department project manager SM Haider said unnecessary pressure mounted by lawyers and leaders had led to the tragedy. He sought an inquiry into the case.

Haider said 2,500 lawyers had monitored the construction work and a meeting was convened under the chairmanship of the district judge in which the corporation was directed to complete its work by April 28. Lawyers were planning to get the chief minister to inaugurate the chamber by the last week of April.

Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch and Protection Forum president Shiv Ranjan Pandey blamed politics for the tragedy. He said 50 chambers, were proposed, but only 40 were constructed. He further said that each chamber was supposed to be of 10x12 size, but the company was constructing rooms of 9x9 size. He demanded a high- level inquiry.

It may be recalled that DM Dr Hariom had announced that a two-member committee had been constituted to probe the collapse. He said RP Singh of the Rural Engineering Services and City Magistrate Anil Kumar would be members of the panel.