Vyapam lawyer Indira Jaising barred from addressing meet in Madhya Pradesh
BHOPAL: Despite an invite, senior lawyer and former additional
solicitor general Indira Jaising, who is defending Vyapam whistle-blowers in
High Court and Supreme Court, was allegedly barred from addressing the
inaugural session of a training program at National Law Institute University
(NLIU), Bhopal by Madhya Pradesh government on Tuesday.
Jaising has condemned the attitude stating that she is facing government backlash for having represented petitioners who sought CBI probe in Vyapam scam.
A two day workshop was being organised on 'Gender sensitization and capacity building training on sexual harassment of women at work places' jointly by UN Women, MP government, NGO Lawyers Collective, Taal and NLIU. When Jaising reached the venue, she was stopped from addressing the inaugural session by the organisers on grounds that they have not received "clearances on her name" from the state government. She left the venue after that.
Jaising has condemned the attitude stating that she is facing government backlash for having represented petitioners who sought CBI probe in Vyapam scam.
A two day workshop was being organised on 'Gender sensitization and capacity building training on sexual harassment of women at work places' jointly by UN Women, MP government, NGO Lawyers Collective, Taal and NLIU. When Jaising reached the venue, she was stopped from addressing the inaugural session by the organisers on grounds that they have not received "clearances on her name" from the state government. She left the venue after that.
Here is what Jaising told TOI after the incident - "I was in Bhopal to inaugurate a two day workshop on sexual harassment at the workplace jointly organised by UN Women and Government of MP. Lawyers collective was a technical partner training on the law. At 10.30 am I was told that that government had not cleared my name to address the conference".
"While lawyers collective of which I am a trustee appreciates the efforts of the government of MP to spread awareness of the law, the refusal to allow me to speak the meeting is linked to the fact that I have been appearing in the Vyapam scam in the High Court and in the Supreme Court along with my professional colleagues Vivek Thanka, Kapil Sibal and KTS Tulsi," she said adding "I condemn this attitude as an attack on the right of clients to legal representation"
Organisers said that that there was a problem with coordination. "It was
just a matter of coordination. There was delay in communication nothing
else," says Dr Raka Arya, chairman of gender and health loss at NLIU. Senior lawyers such as Kapil Sibal, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Vivek Tankha and
Indira Jaising, had been appearing for a batch of petitioners including
Digvijaya Singh and some whistleblowers in the Supreme Court.
see also
Another Vyapam scam-related death? Ex-observer for recruitment found dead on tracks
CHARU KARTIKEYA - After Vyapam, another scandal may be brewing in Madhya Pradesh
CHARU KARTIKEYA - After Vyapam, another scandal may be brewing in Madhya Pradesh
