Delhi lawyers join countrywide strike

New Delhi: Judicial work in the national capital was affected on Friday as lawyers abstained from work to protest against a proposed bill that bars them from going on strike. "In solidarity with the BCI, Delhi lawyers have resolved to abstain from work in all the district courts," the Coordination Committee of All District Courts Bar Associations of Delhi said. The Bar Council of India (BCI) called for a countrywide lawyers' strike on March 31, opposing the Law Commission's recommendations. The strike is being observed in all the six district courts -- Patiala House, Tis Hazari, Rohini, Karkardooma, Saket and Dwarka. "None of the lawyers are appearing before the court as we have decided to abstain from work. The strike is successful," said New Delhi Bar Association President Santosh Mishra. The Supreme Court lawyers would not join the strike but have extended support. The Bar Council has urged the government to reject the recommendations of the Law Commission. Judicial work in Delhi was paralysed on March 23 when 6,000 lawyers struck work to protest suggestions that lawyers should be banned from going on strike and slapped with penalties if they do so.