Advocates of district court here on Thursday went on flash strike from Thursday afternoon in protest against shifting of rent control court from the district court to the collectorate. The advocates' strike will continue from Friday to Monday.
During this period, they will remain absent from their duty and accordingly will not take up any legal cases. A decision to this effect was taken by the District Advocates Association following an emergency meeting here on Thursday afternoon.
Advocates are protesting rent control court from the district court premises to the collector's office following an official directive from the district collector. The rent control court had been functioning at the district court premises for the past 45 years. The district court advocates have taken strong objection to this move as they are of the view that those advocates who practice at the district court also act as counsels for the rent control court.
However, shifting of this court from the district court are creating problems both to the advocates and their clients. Four days back, the District Advocates Association had given a call for the strike against the district collector's move. On Wednesday also, the advocates had registered their protest against the district administration's move by donning white badge and from Thursday afternoon, they stopped working and went on strike.
Association's president Dinesh Pandey and secretary Gopal Kacholia informed that as decided in the meeting on Thursday, all the advocates from Friday onward to Monday will abstain from doing any legal works at the district court and added that the decision on next course of action on agitation will be taken in a general body meeting of the association on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, in a related development, advocates owing allegiance to the State Advocates Association also absented from their works on Thursday, pressing for the implementation of the Advocates Protection Act.