Thanjavur: As part of their continuing agitations, a section of advocates in Thanjavur have embarked on a two-day fast, as announced by the Tamil Nadu-Puducherry Advocates Joint Action Committee, pressing for the immediate withdrawal of amendments made to the Advocates Act.

Led by the Thanjavur Bar Association’s president, D. Siddharthan, the advocates embarked on the two-day fast in front of the district sessions court in Thanjavur today.

Siddharthan said that the advocates’ boycott of courts and other agitations will continue until the controversial amendments made to the Advocates Act were withdrawn.

If the suspension of 126 advocates was not revoked and no amicable solution was found in the talks held today in New Delhi to end the advocates’ two-month-long agitation, the advocates would lay siege to the courts in New Delhi, Siddharthan said.

The amendments give ample powers to the court even to debar the advocates indulging in activities like participating in processions or holding placards inside the court hall. The advocates can be permanently barred from appearing before the High Court or subordinate courts.

These amendments were recently made by the Madras High Court empowering courts to debar erring advocates from practice, either temporarily or permanently, by exercising the powers conferred on it under Section 34(1) of the Advocates Act, 1961, the advocates said.

Photos: Advocates who are on a two-day fast in front of the district sessions court in Thanjavur