SRINAGAR: A group of junior lawyers, whose petition seeking ban on use of pepper gas and pellet guns against protestors in Kashmir was dismissed by the High Court, have sharply criticised their seniors for maintaining a “criminal silence” over their “insult” by the Judges.
Justices dismissed their petition saying it had nothing for public interest and said “heavy costs” would have been imposed on them, but were spared only because they were on the threshold of their career.
Some separatist leaders, including Syed Ali Shah Geelani, also blamed the junior lawyers for the petition getting rejected. They said the juniors should have done research and also consulted their seniors before filing the Public Interest Litigation.
Advocate Babar Jan Qadri, president of the Lawyers Club Kashmir – a group of the juniors – said they felt insulted by the Judges, but the Bar Association also failed to show support.
Geelani issued statement without going through the facts of the matter – Advocate Babar Qadri
“Instead of reacting to the judgment, the Bar Association has issued a notice to the lawyers saying they did not raise issues concerning human life,” he said.
Mr Qadri also criticised Mr Geelani of the Hurriyat for issuing statement against them “without going through the facts of the matter.”
He said the junior lawyers had indeed consulted their seniors and they were always been briefed about the proceedings of the petition.
“Senior Lawyers such as Zaffar Quereshi and president Bar Association Mian Abdul Qayoom were also informed,” Mr Qadri said.
