Cuttack: Responding to the call given by the Bar Council of India, the members of Odisha High Court Bar Association here have decided to boycott courts tomorrow and on July 12.

Opposing the inclusion of legal education within the ambit of the proposed Higher Education and Research Bill-2011 and Legal Practitioners (Regulations and Maintenance of Standards in Professions, Protecting the Interest of Clients and Promoting the Rule of Law) Act, 2010, the BCI last month had given the boycott call urging all state bar associations and state bar councils to cooperate.

Respecting BCI's call, we had abstained from the courts for one day last month and we are also going to boycott the courts on Wednesday and Thursday, said HC bar association secretary Piyush Mishra.

He said the proposed Bill would curb independence of the legal profession which would have a direct bearing on the lawyers.

Besides, the bill would equip the governments to have a direct control over the lawyers, the legal profession and legal education in the country.