MHAA members resort to court boycott to condemn 2009 police action

The attack was in sequel to the protest resorted by the advocates condemning the war against Tamils, which was at its peak in Sri Lanka then. During such time, a group of advocates hurled eggs at the then Janata Party President Subramanian Swamy who visited the High Court on February 17 that year. However, on February 19, when the Chennai police attempted to arrest the group of lawyers, who allegedly attacked Swamy, the scuffle broke into widespread violence.

In the ‘bloody clash’ that followed a police station within the High Court premises was set ablaze. Also, police dressed in riot gear ransacked judge’s chambers and court halls.

Vehicles belonging to advocates were damaged and in the fierce attack, which lasted for nearly four hours, scores of lawyers including a judge sustained injuries.

However, the Justice BN Srikrishna panel, appointed by the Supreme Court, to go into the attack had held that an “unruly mob of lawyers” provoked the violence. It also condemned the Chennai police for going “berserk” and using force that went beyond the permissible limits.

Also, based on the Srikrishna report, the Madras High Court in October 2009, found four police officials including the then Commissioner Radhakrishnan and then Additional Commissioner AK Viswanathan, who is the present Chennai Commissioner, responsible for the violence and directed their suspension. But the Supreme Court later stayed their suspension.

Soon after the violence, the Karunanidhi-led DMK government ordered a CBI probe into the clashes. In 2010, a chargesheet was filed against 31 advocates, 10 police personnel and a law student under various sections. The four police officers, however, were not named in the CBI chargesheet. In February 2019, a trial court stayed all further proceedings against 31 advocates.

On Wednesday advocates led by MHAA, president G Mohanakrishnan and Women Lawyers Association president Louisal Ramesh, took out a procession from Dr Ambedhkar statue to the Aavin gate. Thereafter, a demonstration was also held against the police at the entrance facing NSC Bose Road.