The Madras High Court Advocates Association on Monday boycotted court proceedings demanding that the state government appoint a counsel to defend the five fishermen sentenced to death by a court in Sri Lanka on drug smuggling charges.

Some advocates shouted slogans against the Sri Lankan Government as a group of them entered the hall of the First Bench headed by the Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, who condemned the act of the advocates.

The Association said the boycott was 'near total'. An MHAA General Body meeting on November 7 passed a resolution for the one-day boycott.

MHAA noted that the Centre had already appointed a counsel on behalf of the Union government, and requested the Centre to use its good offices to speed up the fishermen's release.

The Association decided to extend legal assistance to the fishermen by appointing a legal assistance team.
(PTI)