IIOJK lawyers’ strike continues against despotic attitude of Indian bureaucracy
Srinagar: In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the Bar Association Sopore continued its strike for the seventh consecutive day on Tuesday, protesting misconduct by a Tehsildar and reflecting growing public resentment against the bureaucracy for dancing to the tunes of New Delhi.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the protest was triggered by an incident on August 19 when Advocate Mohammad Waseem visited the Tehsil office in connection with a case involving his clients and to attend proceedings before the Tehsildar.
A Bar Association spokesperson said that the official used highly objectionable and abusive language against the advocate. The Bar further said that the Tehsildar questioned the advocate’s presence in the office and made derogatory remarks against him as well as the legal fraternity.
The association also alleged that the official threatened to send the advocate to lock-up and warned him of “dire consequences”. The Bar Association termed the conduct “a serious affront to the dignity of the legal profession and an interference with the professional independence of advocates.”
“The use of abusive, threatening and derogatory language against an advocate while discharging professional duties is condemned in the strongest terms,” a Bar representative said.
The association has called for an inquiry into the matter and take appropriate action in accordance with law. It also called for measures to ensure the dignity, safety and professional independence of advocates are protected while they discharge their duties.
Legal circles and civil society members say the incident is being widely seen as another example of bureaucratic high-handedness in IIOJK, where officials are perceived to be acting with impunity and in line with directives from New Delhi rather than upholding public service and the rule of law.
Earlier, a local judge was mistreated by Indian police personnel during the discharge of judicial duties in Poonch district.
