[Farmers Protests 2020] No decision taken to support Bharat Bandh call: Bar Council of India clarifies

The Bar Council of India (BCI) has clarified that it does not support calls for a Bharat Bandh in the background of farmers protests across the country..In a meeting with the Central Government yesterday, the BCI presented its suggestions on amendments to the three new farm legislations - the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020..The BCI has voiced its specific concerns with the farm legislations and recommends the following to be incorporated:Adjudication of farmer grievances by a Special Tribunal presided over by a serving judicial officer not below the rank of Additional District Judge,Freedom to farmers to engage lawyers of their choice in proceedings, A time frame within which decision the forum will decide disputes,An option allowing for the appeal against orders or decisions of the forum before the High Courts..The Council has also issued a communication to the State Bar Councils stating that it has not made a decision to support the Bharat Bandh, scheduled for tomorrow, December 8..The Bar Council of Delhi has released a statement in solidarity with the farmers, lending its support to tomorrow's bandh..The Legal Fraternity is astonished as to how the Government without discussion with the farmers as well as the representatives of the Bar have gone ahead to enact the farmer bill.Bar Council of Delhi.Describing the laws as unreasonable, arbitrary and unjust, the Delhi Bar Council's communication terms them anti- farmer, anti-public and anti-advocates, aimed to provide benefit to the big trading companies..The Bar Council of Delhi has also voiced its dissatisfaction with the undoing of minimum support prices and the exclusion of civil courts for the resolution of disputes..For more than a week now, farmers across the country have been protesting the contentious Farmers Laws introduced by the Central government in September this year..In October, the Supreme Court had issued notice in petitions challenging the Farmers Acts..Read the Delhi Bar Council's Press Note: