The Uttar Pradesh government withdrew a controversial government order (GO) directing district magistrates to take action against district court advocates who were involved in activities creating lawlessness on Wednesday.
When lawyers in 22 districts of the state conducted a strike over "objectionable language" used in an order, the order was withdrawn. Lawyers in Meerut and Varanasi went on strike during the protest. Now there has been an end to the lawyers' strike. A senior advocate stated that,
Had the order not been withdrawn, a bigger statewide strike might have been announced on Thursday."
On May 14, Praful Kamal, the UP government's special secretary, issued an order directing all district magistrates to take action against advocates who were creating lawlessness in district courts. Once the district magistrates had taken action against these lawyers, they were directed to inform the government. All district judges and the additional chief secretary (home) received a copy of the order.
Prashant Singh Atal, co-chairman, Uttar Pradesh Bar Council & governments chief standing counsel, said that,
The Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh took up the issue with the authorities concerned. The state government has withdrawn the GO. The legal fraternity is happy with the governments decision.
The President of the Central Bar Association of the Lucknow District Court, Sunil Dwivedi, who had threatened a defamation suit against the government, has also welcomed the government's move to withdraw the GO. He stated that,
We have already requested the district judge to issue identity cards to practising lawyers. It will be compulsory for all lawyers to carry this identity card during their presence in court."
