Mangalore: Lawyers boycott courts against the Higher Education and Research Bill 2011

By John V. Tauro
Bellevision Media network

Mangalore, 12 July 2012: Nearly 17 lakh lawyers across India started their agitation boycotting the courts for two-days from Wednesday to protest the move by Union Ministry for Human Resources Development to bring in six new bills which they felt would override their rights. The bills, passed in Rajya Sabha include the Higher Education and Research Bill, 2011, and the National Accreditation Regulatory Authority for Higher Educational Institutions.

 

In Mangalore, the agitation was launched on Wednesday, July 11, 2012 at 11 by taking out a rally to the  office of the District Collector. Senior Advocate, G.K. Parameshwar Jois addressing the agitating lawyers before the commencement of the rally  said that the Higher Education and Research Bill proposed the setting up of a National Commission, which will take away the rights of the Bar Council of India and State Bar Councils.

 

 

Addressing the advocates, Mangalore Bar Association president S P Changappa said that at present, the National Bar Council and the State Bar Council play an important role in guiding the activities of the lawyers across India and this right would be passed on to a few academicians in the commission if it come into force.

 

Underscoring the need for the agitation by the lawyers, Chengappa told that the other proposed bill including the Foreign Educational Institution Regulation of Entry and Operation Bill, 2010, The Prohibition of Unfair Practices in Higher Educational Institution Bill, 2010, the National Law Schools Bill, 2011 and Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Act, 2012,  all have elements that will curtail rights of lawyers. Stating that the legal fraternity is governed by the Advocates Act, 1961, he said the bar councils had played a pivotal role in ensuring and upholding the quality of legal education. "If the proposed commission comes up, it will virtually render the bar councils meaningless," he added.

 

As part of the protest an effigy of Kapil Sibal, Union Human Resource Development Minister, was burnt. A memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister of India appealing to drop the the proposed legislation was handed over to the District Collector.