Several lawyers from different parts of Karnataka turned up on the Mysuru law court premises on Monday seeking to represent Nalini Balakumar, who has been booked for sedition.
Over 165 lawyers from Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mandya, Dharwad, and Davangere signed the ‘Vakalathnama’, expressing solidarity with Ms. Nalini after the Mysuru Advocates’ Association passed a resolution against its members appearing for persons accused in sedition cases.
When the bail petition filed by Ms. Nalini came up for hearing in the court of the Second Additional District Judge, advocates Jagadish from Bengaluru and Anees Pasha from Davangere argued for the accused.
The court also took up the bail petition filed by Maridevaiah, president of the University of Mysore Research Scholars Association, who has been named as an accused in the FIR lodged by the Mysuru city police in the sedition case. Raghunath, an advocate from Mysuru, appeared for Mr. Maridevaiah.
The court, which has already given interim bail to Ms. Nalini, adjourned the hearing on the petitions of Ms. Nalini and Mr. Maridevaiah till January 24.
Earlier in the day, the Mysuru Advocates’ Association convened a meeting in the wake of appeals from a section of its members to review the resolution against its members appearing for the accused in sedition cases.
Commotion at meeting
While the meeting was under way, commotion unfolded with a few lawyers allegedly roughing up fellow advocate P.P. Baburaj for allegedly trying to record the proceedings on video. Mr. Baburaj, who is incidentally among the lawyers who signed the ‘Vakalatnama’ to appear on behalf of Ms. Nalini, was later led out of the meeting. The association also resolved to reject the appeals made to review its decision. “We have decided to uphold our earlier resolution,” said Shivanna, secretary of the association.
