New Delhi: Lawyers across the nation defied the Supreme Court directive of December 17 and responded to the Bar Council of India's strike to protest against the Legal Services Authorities (Amendment) Act, 2002.

The Act provides for 'Lok Adalats' in every public utility service department and the judgments of these 'adalats' cannot be challenged in any court of law.

It may be recalled that the Supreme Court on December 17 had declared that lawyers have no right to go on strike, neither they should accede to any call for boycott of courts or even go on token one-day strike.

A five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice G B Pattanaik held that all lawyers must boldly refuse to abide by any strike call given by any Bar association.

Agencies