Andhra High Court still tense, fasting lawyers removed

HYDERABAD - The situation continued to be tense at the Andhra Pradesh High Court Friday after police forcibly removed three lawyers from Telangana who had been on fast for the last four days while a judge withdrew his resignation, submitted to protest the attitude of lawyers.

Over 2,000 policemen were deployed around the court complex as authorities moved to resume court work after three days of protest and violence by Telangana lawyers, who are demanding 42 percent share for the region in the appointments of law officers.

Only lawyers with identity cards and clients carrying documents were allowed inside the high court premises.

In a late night action, police forcibly shifted three lawyers to Gandhi Hospital. There was high tension in the premises as their supporters tried to resist the police action.

The lawyers were Thursday evening booked for attempt to commit suicide. They were booked for going on an indefinite fast at the office of advocate general in the high court premises.

Chief Justice Nisar Ahmed Kakru, who returned to Hyderabad Thursday night after cutting short his leave on the advice of the Chief Justice of India, held a meeting with fellow judges. The meeting decided to deal firmly with protesters, who have brought the court work to a standstill for three days.

The meeting decided that those involved in the incidents of violence would be identified and no one would be allowed to stay on the premises after 6 p.m.

The chief justice Friday persuaded Justice C.V. Nagarjuna Reddy to withdraw his resignation. Nagarjuna Reddy sent his resignation Thursday night after the protesters targeted his court hall for three days. The Telangana lawyers vented their ire at him for continuing the court proceedings despite the boycott call given by Telangana lawyers’ Joint Action Committee.

Nagarajuna Reddy was pained over the chaos and the attitude of the protesters. Acting Chief Justice Meena Kumari had also reportedly threatened to go on fast to protest the lawyers’ attitude.

Though the government has invited Telangana lawyers for talks to discuss their demand, the latter are not ready for anything less than a written assurance to set aside 42 percent posts for the region and resignation of Advocate General D. V. Seetharama Murthy, who is not from Telangana.