Police free to act against lawyers misusing 'advocate stickers' on their cars for immunity: Madras High Court

The Madras High Court on Tuesday said that the Police should take action against the misuse of 'advocate' stickers on private vehicles..A bench of acting Chief Justice R Mahadevan and Justice Mohammed Shafiq was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) petition alleging that lawyers were misusing 'advocate stickers' on their private vehicles to seek immunity from traffic offences etc. "The police need not be afraid of anything. There exist multiple orders even by the Supreme Court against use of random stickers. Go take proper action, do not be afraid," the Court said..The PIL said that the use of stickers to intimidate and avoid police action in case of breach of traffic rules was illegal. The petitioner, S Devadoss Gandhi Wilson, argued that unlike doctors who need stickers for emergency situations, lawyers do not require stickers once they are out of court.The Court sought information on the specific types of stickers used by lawyers in Chennai. "Which stickers are used here in Madras? Go tell the Bar Association that police will take action against all illegal stickers," the Court said.The Madras Bar Association (MBA) informed the court that besides the Tamil Nadu Bar Association stickers, members of the MBA who practice at the Madras High Court also use a membership sticker on their vehicles.The petitioner suggested that these membership stickers be placed under the car's sunshades and displayed only when required to parking attendants or police.The Court, however, maintained that the police was free to take action."We are not going to get into all that. The police are permitted to take action. It is not just this Court that is saying this. The Supreme Court has also said it,” stated ACJ Mahadevan.Eventually, the Court issued notice to the State government and the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu, instructing them to file their counter before the next hearing in two weeks.