Shameful drama in HC chamber

(February 18, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) A section of the advocates in Tamilnadu have been taking law in their hands and behaving in the most unseemly manner possible (disrupting the functioning of courts and holding up traffic on roads in the name of showing solidarity for the Sri Lankan Tamils) for long.

Today, their actions crossed all manner of acceptance and plumbed new lows as they hurled eggs on Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy inside a chamber of High Court, when Justice K Chandru and P K Mishra, as part of a Division Bench, were hearing his (Swamy) in the Chidambaram Natarajar temple issue.
Apart from rabid pro-LTTE words, the virulent gang of advocates were decidedly nasty by hurling casteist invectives on Swamy and others gathered.

Such a shameful behaviour from a section of the advocates left the two Justices fuming as they told the State government to provide security for Swamy and ensure that such events aren’t repeated.

On a day of tumult and tension, Subramaniam Swamy, who is seeking to implead himself in the case relating to the government take over of the control of the Chidambaram Natarajar temple, was arguing in front of Mishra and Chandru.

Suddenly, around 20 advocates, barged into the chamber where the hearing of the case was on, and started raising slogans on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue. When the words were reaching a fever pitch, a few of those who stormed in, materialised eggs from their pockets and hurled them on the stunned Swamy. The missiles hit Swamy on his arms and body, leaving him totally stupefied.
By the time his own team of advocates and others could hem around him, the damage had been done. Those who tried to reason out with the loutish group of egg-hurling advocates, among who were some women too, were drowned with casteist vitriol.

Apparently, in the melee, a senior police official who tried to ensure some order was also jostled and pushed around.As the disgraceful incident happened inside the chamber, Swamy’s own security men (CRPF) couldn’t be around to provide safety.

The rowdyish group of advocates, who were still in a sloganeering mode, were removed out by the police. A shaken Swamy was later shepherded to near the Judges’ seat and provided a place. Later, the Janata Party leader who had gathered his wits by then, appealed to the Judges to direct the State government to take action.

The Judges, who had made strong observations on the incident, ordered that Swamy be provided full security by the State government. The hearing in the case was adjourned for tomorrow.

Later talking to reporters, Swamy said that the attack on him inside the court chamber was a reflection of the deteriorating law and order situation in the State. ‘Support for the LTTE is different from democratic means of protest. The rights and respect of local Tamils should not be destroyed under the guise of support for the Lankan Tamils,’ he said.

-Sri Lanka Guardian