Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 25: J&K High Court Bar Association, Jammu today held a strong protest demonstration in the court complex, Janipur against the high handed attitude of the police personnel involved in the illegal acts of beating, detention and atrocities on Advocate Harshvardhan Gupta and senior police officials who are protecting them.
The Bar also convened a meeting to deliberate upon the future course of action to be adopted to further intensify the ongoing agitation in which the members were of the unanimous view that illegal action of the police personnel and those shielding them need to be condemned by one and all and steps be taken by the authorities to restore the shattered confidence of the Advocates in particular and public at large in general.
It was resolved with one voice to seek support from all organizations, members of civil society, political parties, social organizations and public at large to help this agitation to reach its logical conclusion so that the oppressive attitude of the police towards citizens and human rights violations at their hands are set at rest forthwith.
In order to implement the ongoing agitation sternly a core committee comprising the office bearers of JKHCBA, and YLA, former Presidents, Vice-Presidents, General Secretaries, Former Presidents YLA and Senior members of the Association was formulated besides announcing an enforcement committee for the said purpose.
The meeting was presided by its President, M.K. Bhardwaj (Sr. Advocate), and attended by other office bearers Sindhu Sharma (Vice-President), Ranjit S. Jamwal (General Secretary), Prem N. Sadotra, (Jt. Secretary), Gurveer Singh (Cashier), President and the members of the YLA, the former Bar Presidents and members.
Meanwhile, various political parties and social organizations have extended their full support to lawyers strike urging the State Government to give up its rigid stand on the issue and resolve the deadlock immediately as the strike has affected litigants badly.
Extending its full support to J&K High Court Bar Association, senior BJP leader and National co-convener of its Kashmir Cell, Chander Mohan Sharma said that the lawyers’ agitation has entered fifth day but the administration and police high ups have made it false prestige issues not to take action against erring police personnel which has added to the miseries and sufferings of the common litigants.
Mr Sharma while addressing a press conference here, today said the present agitation of the lawyers is not for their cause but the common people also feel harassed and humiliated by police men every now and then.
J&K National Panthers Party (JKNPP) general secretary Hari Singh Jalmeria who is also Party candidate for Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha seat has strongly condemned the police authorities for harassing and humiliating advocate Harshvardhan Gupta and extended full support on behalf his party to agitation launched by High Court Bar Association, Jammu demanding action against erring police officials.
Jammu West Assembly Movement has also extended its full support to lawyers strike. In a statement issued here today the president of the Movement, Sunil Dimple has made an appeal to DGP seeking his immediate intervention and holding talks with Bar Association for an early and amicable settlement of the issue.
People’s Democratic Party Youth Wing has extended full support to the agitating Bar Association Jammu.
At a press conference here, People’s Democratic Party Youth Wing in support of Bar Association Jammu under the leadership of Rajinder Manhas State Vice President, Advocate Gurdeep Singh Pandey State Secretary, Nadeem Khan, Abhijeet Jasrotia and others. The party Youth Wing State vice President Rajinder Singh Manhas said that it is very unfortunate that lawyers strike enters 6th day and Government as well as Police Department is silent on this issue of harassing and illegal detention of an Advocate.
Meanwhile Bar Association Poonch suspended work today in the district Court complex and other sub-ordinate and revenue courts in support of the strike launched by Jammu Bar Association.