Lawyers across the country defied the Supreme Court on Wednesday and went on a strike.
The Bar Council of India had called for the strike to protest against the Legal Services Authorities (Amendment) Act, 2002, providing for lok adalats in every public utility service department. The judgments of these lok adalats cannot be challenged in any court.
On Tuesday a five-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice G B Pattanaik, had held that all lawyers must refuse any strike calls given by any bar association. No threat or coercive action of any kind can be held against any advocate by any bar association for non-participation in the strike, it added.
However, Bar Council of India Vice-Chairman Adish C Aggarwala said, "The judgment is delivered at a juncture that the council is in no position to recall the joint decision taken on November 24 in consultation with all state bar councils to go on a strike on December 18."