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Justice Shivappa issue shuts courts in Madras

The Madras High Court Advocates Association boycotted court proceedings Friday to protest against the executive interference in determining Justice C Shivappa's age.

Work at the high court came to a standstill.

Earlier, the association meeting had turned violent, with advocates owing allegiance to the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam beating up two mediamen and manhandling photographers. A majority of the 150-odd advocates at the meeting backed the resolution to boycott proceedings.

About 15 AIADMK advocates, led by Krishnamurthy, Selvanandam and C T Mohan, protested when association president P Jayaraman introduced the resolution. They insisted that there was no need for any protest over the issue, and disrupted the meeting and manhandled three photographers.

When the newspersons -- Tamil Durai of the Dina Thanthi and Avudaiappan of Dina Malar -- attempted to reason with the advocates, they were beaten up. Tamil Durai sustained injuries on his left hand.

Jayaraman said the advocates were not protesting against the President's decision, but against the interference of the Union government.

After the resolution was passed, the advocates went round the courts with their boycott call. While a number of judges immediately retired to their chambers, some went ahead with proceedings for a while.

Justice Shivappa was absent in court.

Tamil Manila Congress spokesman and advocate B Gnanadesikan said the advocates were protesting against the improper action of the minister communicating the President's decision to the acting chief justice of Madras high court. In fact, the Supreme Court in its judgement in 1971 had recommended that such communication be issued by the Rashtrapathi Bhavan, he pointed out. He also condemned the assault on newspersons.

Jayaraman, for his part, tendered an unconditional apology on behalf of the AIADMK advocates to the newsmen who were attacked.

DMK advocate R Nakeeran, however, demanded action against the culprits.

Meanwhile, the Madras Union of Journalists has urged Chief Minister M Karunanidhi to provide protection to newsmen.

UNI

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