Advocates raise voice against Higher Education and Research Bill

Advocates raise voice against Higher Education and Research Bill

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Jan 20, 2012: The Mangalore Bar Association organized a protest in front of the court building on Jan 20 Friday, condemning certain provisions of the Higher Education and Research Bill 2011, introduced by the central government, and demanding independence for lawyers. 

In his protest address, S. P. Changappa, the president of the Mangalore Bar Association, said that the bill gives the National Commission of Higher Education and Legal Education complete control of legal education, including prescription of syllabi and curriculum. If the bill is passed, the legal profession will lose its independence and autonomy. 

Stating that the association is concerned about the provisions of this bill, he said that its members had discussed its implications in a meeting held on Jan 19 at 2:00 p.m. in its office. 

 

He alleged that the government has faced strong opposition from the legal community on several vital issues, owing to which it is attempting to curb their independence and establish control over lawyers, legal education, and legal procession. For instance, it is being proposed that the power to take disciplinary action against lawyers must be conferred on bureaucrats so that the government can easily misuse this power. Owing to all this, the bar association has decided to oppose some of the sections of this bill, he said. 

He further said that all Mangalore-based lawyers have condemned a recent attack on a lawyer in Bangalore.

Several advocates participated in this protest.