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Lawyers across the State in dire straits

By Correspondent

SIVASAGAR, Oct 20 - One of the professional communities hit hard by the continuous lockdown following the COVID-19 outbreak in the country is the 1.3 million strong lawyers� community.

In Assam, nearly 25,000 lawyers are in dire straits now, the worst phase for many in the profession for decades. It is not just the lawyers in the numerous Bars, but also the petition writers (tarani), helpers, drivers, tea stall vendors, stamp vendors, photo copiers and other anciliary workers dependent on the lawyers � all are facing acute financial crisis.

The Sivasagar Bar Association with nearly 500 members held a meeting on October 12 on the burning problems of the lawyers and adopted a resolution to move the High Court in this regard. Chaired by senior advocate Anil Chandra Dutta, the meeting discussed, inter alia, the plight of hundreds of undertrials and their families waiting for court verdicts for months on end, which itself is a violation of human rights. The meeting expressed deep concern over the fate of some petitioners awaiting justice and a deep financial crisis faced by the legal community due to the inordinate delay over opening of the courts while most of the other institutions like schools, colleges, markets, gyms, theatres, bus services and even malls have been allowed to open under various phases of unlock to stabilise the economy.

The members also expressed concern over women who depend on the court proceedings in realising their monthly source of sustenance from divorced husbands and suspended government employees and their harassed families who approach the court for justice against allegations of involvement in corruption cases.

Advocate Diganta Mongal Neog, secretary, Sivasagar Bar Association told this correspondent that the association feels it very urgent to discuss the state of the stalemate with other associations and appeal to the Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court to consider their appeal and open the courts. A ten-member convenors committee was formed in the meeting to communicate with lawyers of other towns and to chart out the next phase of action.

Advocate Nayan Moni Baruah, speaking to this correspondent here recently said that the lawyers in lower courts suffer most as they deal with their clients directly. The emergency services rendered by the lawyers under the present circumstances are not remunerative while the junior lawyers going to the courts are mostly busy doing other miscellaneous works. The meeting paid homage to deceased members of the association Tara Prasad Gogoi, Pradyut Kakoti and Durgeswar Borgohain.

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