Meanwhile in Chennai....

In an unprecedented development, judges reached out to the litigant public to skirt the seven-week-old legal logjam created by the advocates’ strike in Tamil Nadu. The Madras high court’s decision to hear and dispose of cases even in the absence of advocates enabled large numbers of litigants in need of immediate redressal to argue cases on their own and expedite a breakthrough. In the face of the boycott by advocates, who are demanding action against police officials for the February 19 violence, the 36-acre campus, which houses the family court, city civil court and small causes court, was bustling with activity on Monday as litigants came forward to make submissions and win interim relief. “The public perhaps apprehended largescale dismissal of their cases or adverse interim orders, but that did not happen. Instead, many of them received some respite,” said a court official, adding, “For the first time in nearly seven weeks, the court is doing brisk business.” Each court, including the first bench headed by Chief Justice Hemant Laxman Gokhale, entertained more than 50 petitioners. Litigants, who walked away with satisfactory interim orders, were congratulated by others waiting for their turn. The Madras HC had on Friday said that courts would start passing orders even if advocates stayed away from the proceedings. On Monday, each judge entertained over 50 petitioners. Over 140 bail applications were cleared by Justice PR Shivakumar . 39 service & property related cases were disposed of by Justice K Chandru . Striking lawyers opened three legal aid centres to assist litigants .