Permit lawyers to have essential access to Courts, offices during lockdown: Tamil Nadu Bar Council writes to State
The Chairman of the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, PS Amalraj, has written to the State government appealing for directions to be issued to police officers so that lawyers are allowed to access courts and their offices during the lockdown recently announced in Tamil Nadu.
It is noted that the functioning of the judiciary and courts have been exempted from the lockdown. As such, lawyers should also be permitted to access courts and their offices during the said period, says the letter dated May 8.
The letter further stated, "Therefore, we request your good self to issue appropriate directions to all the Police Officers of Tamil Nadu concerned to ensure that the lawyers may be given essential access to the Courts and their offices to represent the cases during lockdown period.”
In view of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tamil Nadu government recently announced a State-wide lockdown from May 10 to May 24. Guidelines to restrict public movement have already been issued through a notification issued today.
While urging for easing such restrictions in so far as access to courts and offices for lawyers in the State, the Bar Council has further assured the government that advocates are ready to follow other advisories that may be issued.