'Horrific Incident Has Taken Us Back To Days Of Anarchy': BCI Condemns Murder Of Lawyer Couple In Telangana

"This is an onslaught on the freedom of the profession. It is proving to be exceedingly difficult and even fatal for the Advocates taking up the peoples cause," the council said after the couple was allegedly killed for raising voice against alleged custodial death of one Seelam Rangaiah in Manthani.

It added,

"It is very shocking to note and mention that the deceased had filed a PIL case against custodial death in police station and some other cases against some leader of the ruling party in Telangana and the horrific incident has taken us back to the days of anarchy and lawlessness and goondaraj."

The BCI said that the brutal and horrific murder of Advocates Gattu Vaman Rao and his wife PV Nagamani in broad daylight, in public view, proves that there exists a severe threat and attack on the independence of the Bar.

"The frequent threats and attacks on the lawyers have established that the Advocates are not at all safe anywhere in the country," it said.

Thus, the Council has demanded from the Union Government to provide proper protection to the lawyers of the country and to pass some Law for the protection of lawyers.

"This is the high time when the Union and the State Government should take-up the issue with all sincerity failing which the Advocates of the country would take recourse of a countrywide agitation," the Council said.

Inter alia, the Council has urged the Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court to take judicial notice of the incident and pass an order for independent and impartial judicial inquiry into the incident.

"The Council in its resolution has decided to write to the Hon'ble Chief Justice Ms. Hima Kohli as it appears that there is no possibility of an independent and impartial investigation by the police because of the aforesaid reasons," the resolution stated.

Furthermore, the Council has urged the written a letter to the Chief Minister of Telangana, asking him to declare and provide some meaningful help and financial assistance for the family of the concerned Advocates, including Government Job for the dependent family member/s.

Advocates Gattu Vaman Rao and his wife PV Nagamani were returning to Hyderabad after attending a court case in Manthani, when their vehicle was intercepted and they were stabbed multiple times by some unidentified men.

The couple was rushed to a nearby hospital where they succumbed to the injuries this afternoon.

Yesterday, the Bar Council of Telangana had demanded the Police to probe the incident and arrest the culprits. It had also asked the Government to enact Advocates Protection Act to safeguard the Advocate Community, who discharge their duties to protect the rights of the Citizens.

A Division Bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy of Telangana High Court took suo motu cognizance of the alleged incident on Thursday.

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