Chennai:
Madras High Court on Monday stayed further proceedings on the chargesheet filed by the CBI in a city court in connection with the clash between police and advocates in the High Court complex on February 19 last year.
The interim order was passed by Justice K N Basha on a petition by an advocate seeking to quash the chargesheet against 31 lawyers.
"There shall be no further proceedings before the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) pending further orders," the Judge said and posted the petition to January 29.
The petitioner had contended that the investigation by the CBI was not according to law and the directions issued by a Full Bench of the Court in the aftermath of the clash.
CBI had filed the chargesheet in the ACMM court on January 12 against four police personnel and 32 advocates and recommended departmental action against 22 policemen in connection with the clash that left a Judge, scores of advocates and policemen besides journalists injured.
The Tamil Nadu Advocates' Association, Madras High Court Advocates association and Women Lawyers Association had filed memos before the magistrate court opposing the chargesheet I on the ground that it was 'biased' and sought its return.
They had claimed that 'there are several documents, photographs and video clippings to implicate other officers and men of the police force' for their 'attack' on advocates.