Lawyers Rejected To Work- Education Bill Issues On

Lawyers of all district courts have rejected to work for two days beginning from today, in order to oppose the government's proposed Higher Education and Research (HER) Bill, said the Bar Council of New Delhi.

The apex lawyer's body Bar Council of India had given a call for nation-wide protest against the proposed bill. The Bill, which seeks to regulate the legal education system in the country, has been facing strong opposition from the apex lawyers body which has alleged that it is aimed at assuming the BCI's control over legal education.

On confirming their stand, the officials of BCI and BCD have told PTI that they are going ahead with the two-day protest starting from today. The BCI Chairman, Manan Kumar Mishra said "Lawyers across India will be abstaining from Court work on July 11 and 12th July. We were compelled to take this stand due to the attitude of the HRD Ministry".

However, the lawyers of the Delhi Court will not be abstaining from work tomorrow as full court reference is being held that day in favour of justice Anil Kumar, who will be retiring. The strike has been objected to by a former BCD Chairman and current BCD member, Ved Prakash Sharma who said that in light of the recent letter from HRD Minister Kapil Sibal, "It is unfortunate the BCI has chosen to go ahead with the proposed strike on July 11 and 12".

In his letter, Sibal had said that the Bill would not affect the powers and the functions of the BCI and the State Bar Councils.