Hubballi sedition case: Resolution barring lawyers from representing Kashmiri students withdrawn

Bengaluru: The Hubballi Bar Association on Thursday withdrew it earlier resolution stating that none of its members would represent the three Kashmiri students who have booked for sedition.

Advocate wishing to represent the accused can approach Dharwad Principal District Court to file bail plea for them, said the association

The development comes a day after a division bench of Karnataka High Court, comprising of Chief Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Hemant Chandanagoudar expressed unhappiness over the resolution.

Hearing the PIL petition filed by B T Venkatesh and 24 other lawyers challenging the resolution of the bar association, Chief Justice Oka said: “Look at what poor image of the institute of judiciary is being projected because of this. We proudly say we don’t run ‘Kangaroo courts’ in India. Even (Terrorist) Ajmal Kasab was given a full trial, senior advocates were appointed by the court to represent him. Here, the advocates are not allowed to appear in bail applications for the accused. This is nothing less that ‘Sheer militancy’.”

Replying to the bench, Advocate General Prabhuling Navadgi said that he would personally speak to the office bearers of the bar association and ask them to reconsider the resolution.

It directed the advocate general to request the office bearers of the association to be present before the court and posted the matter to February 27.

Earlier on Monday, when lawyers, representing the Kashmiri students visited the District Court in Dharwad to file the bail application, they were heckled by members of Hubli Bar and were forced to return without filing the bail petitions.