Lawyers protest against changes in Act by union government

March 24, 2011

Mangalore, March 24: Lawyers in the city under the banner of Mangalore Bar Association (MBA) on Thursday joined thousands of their counterparts across the state to protest against a move by the Union government to usher in The Legal Practitioners (Regulation and Maintenance of Standards in Profession Protecting the Interest of Clients and Promoting the Rule of Law) Act, by wearing red badges in front of the court building.

Currently, powers to control or discipline members of the legal fraternity rests with Bar Councils duly elected by lawyers and not with any agency.

P P Hegde, Vice Chairman, Karnataka State Bar Council, speaking on the occasion, said that such control by the Bar Council of its members has enabled lawyers to act independently and also take on the issue of corruption in the judiciary. The changes in the proposed Act empowers the Legal Services Board to be headed by a retired judge of the state high court or district judge to enquire in to complaints against lawyers and punish them if guilty.

“This provision totally usurps powers enjoyed by the bar councils, Hegde stated adding that the Act also envisages initiation of disciplinary action against lawyers by consumers disputes redressal forum in case any client were to register a complaint against the lawyer concerned. The cost of functioning of the Legal Services Board is proposed to be met by imposing Rs 25 additional stamp fee on every vakalat filed by the lawyers, Hegde noted.

The move to empower retired judges to discipline practicing lawyers is highly unscientific and would force them to constantly work under the fear of the judges. This would also curtail their freedom to discharge their duties in an independent manner, he noted.

“Lawyers across the district and taluks are today strongly urging the union government to revoke the controversial Act”, Hegde said.

MBA President S P Chengappa, General Secretary Ganesh Shenoy K and Treasurer B Vittal Rai were among those present.

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Mangaluru: 12,500 healthcare students rally for organ donation and nasha mukth Bharat

coastaldigest.com news network

November 29,2025

Mangaluru, Nov 29: Around 12,500 healthcare students from Medical, Dental, AYUSH, Pharmacy, Nursing, Physiotherapy and Allied Health Sciences colleges of Dakshina Kannada, affiliated to Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS), took part in a massive walkathon to promote awareness on Organ Donation and Nasha Mukth Bharat.

The inaugural ceremony was held at Mangala Stadium. Dr Bhagavan B C, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of RGUHS, delivered the welcome address. The walkathon was flagged off by Shri U T Khader, Hon’ble Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, and presided over by Shri Dinesh Gundu Rao, Hon’ble Minister for Health, Family Welfare and Dakshina Kannada District In-charge. Dakshina Kannada MP Shri Brijesh Chowta also addressed the students.

Music director Guru Kiran, MLA Dr Bharat Shetty (Mangalore North), Police Commissioner Shri Sudheer Kumar Reddy, Shri Manjunath Bhandary and Shri Harish Kumar were among those present.

Institution heads including Dr Haji U K Monu (Kanachur Colleges), Dr Shantharam Shetty (Tejaswini College), Dr Bhaskar Shetty (City Group of Colleges), Mr Abdul Rahiman (Kanachur Institute of Medical Sciences), and the District Health Officer, Mangalore, also participated.

The vote of thanks was delivered by Prof U T Ifthikar Fareed, Syndicate Member, RGUHS.

The event was organised by Dr U T Ifthikar Ali and Dr Shiva Sharan (Syndicate Members), Prof Vaishali (Senate Member), Prof Mohammad Suhail (Chairman, BOS Physiotherapy), Dr Sharan Shetty (Former Senate Member), along with principals and faculty of various colleges.

Students marched from Mangala Stadium to Karavali Grounds via MCC and Lalbagh signal. The event set a record as one of the largest gatherings of healthcare students for a social cause in the RGUHS Dakshina Kannada Zone.

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