Lawyers across north India went on a day-long strike in the district courts on Monday demanding withdrawal of the proposed changes in the Criminal Procedue Code (CrPC) that allow police to go by discretion to arrest the accused in an offence punishable up to seven-year-jail term.
Lawyers” bodies have observed a strike for the third time within two weeks in the national capital this year.
The previous two strikes were on January 7 and 14.
A Federation of Bar Associations formed to launch a “unified protest” against the changes in the statute has already announced the nationwide strikes to be held on February 3 and 18 to press for their demands.
The bar fears that the proposed amendment doing away with the mandatory arrest provisions in the offences punishable up to seven years would remove fear from minds of criminals who would misuse the provisions under the garb of personal liberty.
According to the proposed amendments in the Act, which have earned the nod from President of India, no arrest would be required for cognisable offences such as molestation, dowry harassment and attempt to robbery, prescribing punishment of up to seven years.
While describing the legislation as “anti-people” and “anti-social, lawyers say that even if the bill bringing the changes in the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) the Government could still stall the legislation by not enacting it.
Litigants across the region had a harrowing time on Monday as the strike resulted in the adjournment of the day’s proceedings.
Lawyers” bodies have observed a strike for the third time within two weeks in the national capital this year.
The previous two strikes were on January 7 and 14.
A Federation of Bar Associations formed to launch a “unified protest” against the changes in the statute has already announced the nationwide strikes to be held on February 3 and 18 to press for their demands.
The bar fears that the proposed amendment doing away with the mandatory arrest provisions in the offences punishable up to seven years would remove fear from minds of criminals who would misuse the provisions under the garb of personal liberty.
According to the proposed amendments in the Act, which have earned the nod from President of India, no arrest would be required for cognisable offences such as molestation, dowry harassment and attempt to robbery, prescribing punishment of up to seven years.
While describing the legislation as “anti-people” and “anti-social, lawyers say that even if the bill bringing the changes in the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) the Government could still stall the legislation by not enacting it.
Litigants across the region had a harrowing time on Monday as the strike resulted in the adjournment of the day’s proceedings.
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