Govt urges advocates to end stir

The state government on Wednesday appealed to the striking advocates to call off their agitation for the setting up of a High Court Bench between Vijayawada and Guntur.

Speaking to media persons at the Secretariat on Wednesday, Minister for Law and Courts Mopidevi Venkatramana said that the issue was a delicate one and as such it takes time to resolve the issue. 

Mr Venktaramana also said that the move by the advocates to resort to relay hunger strike and demonstrations is uncalled for.

He pointed out that the legal profession is respectable and they must safeguard their profession. The demand for setting up of a separate Bench is a pending affair and is being looked into, the Law Minister stated. Mr Venkatramana added that it is not possible to settle the issue overnight.

Further, to set up a Bench as demanded by the protesting lawyers requires the intervention of the Central and state governments apart from the Supreme Court and the High Court, the Minister said.

He added that the all the concerned parties have to examine and discuss the issue threadbare and then a decision would be arrived at.

The state government had been examining the issue and Chief Minister K Rosaiah had also spoken to the representatives of the advocates recently, which means that the process has begun, the Law Minister said, replying to a question.  Mr Venkataramana added that the Chief Minister was favourable.

The government will certainly react to the lawyers’ demand at an appropriate time  and occasion, he said. There are some differences/lacunae which require to be examined in detail, Mr Venkatramana stated.

The Law Minister opined that it was unfortunate that advocates had taken to this stir saying that the demand for region- wise Bench of the High Court must be examined. He appealed to the lawyers to end their stir and cooperate with the government. Mr Venkatramana reminded the advocated that litigants were undergoing hardships as the court cases were being adjourned.

Replying to a question that the government was biased against Telangana that it was favourable to the demands raised by people of the Andhra region, the Minister said there was no such link.