The gruesome killing of Advocate Ranjith Sreenivas in Kerala has invoked strong reactions among the legal fraternity across the country.

The Bar Council of India, in its meeting held yesterday evening, has resolved to write to the Government of India through Home Ministry demanding that the matter be investigated by a Central Agency like NIA or CBI.

"Only a Central Agency can find out the truth and the guilty could be punished", states a press release by the Bar Council.

The Council has also demanded that the killing of SDPI leader K. S. Shan, which is believed to have led to the killing of Ranjith, also be investigated by the same Central Agency.

Incidentally, the representative of the State of Kerala in the Council, who is also the State Attorney in the Kerala High Court has expressed his strong dissent to the said resolution of the Council.

The Jammu & Kashmir High Court Bar Association and the State Bar Council of Madhya Pradesh and have also demanded strong action against those behind the killing of Advocate Ranjith Sreenivas.

Earlier, the Bar Council of Kerala had passed a resolution expressing anguish over the killing of the Advocate and demanded action against Ranjith's killers.

In its meeting held on Tuesday in the High Court Complex, Jammu under the Chairmanship of M.K. Bhardwaj, Senior Advocate & President, J &K High Court Bar Association, Jammu, the Association strongly condemn the gruesome murder of Advocate Ranjith Sreenivas.

The J&K HC Bar Association expressed deep anguish over the incident by observing two minutes of silence as a mark of respect to the departed soul. The association extended its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.

It has also demanded the concerned authorities to take strict action against the culprits who did the heinous crime.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the State Bar Council of Madhya Pradesh has addressed a letter to the Union Home Minister today demanding an inquiry through an SIT and immediate action against the culprits.

In the letter addressed by Advocate Shailendra Verma, Chairman of the Bar Council, it is stated that it is the duty of the state government to protect Advocates.

"It is the duty of the State Government to protect the advocates from any unforeseen circumstances so that the advocates practising in the state shall feel protected", states the letter.

Advocate Ranjith Sreenivas who was an active member of the Alleppey Bar Association and the State Secretary of the OBC Morcha of Bharatiya Janata Party, Kerala state was hacked to death inside his house on Sunday morning, in front of his mother, wife and daughter. (read report)

The Executive Council of the Alleppey Bar Association had taken a decision on Sunday night that no member of the Alappuzha Bar will appear for those accused of the killing of Ranjith. Members of the Association had abstained from Court proceedings on Monday in protest.

The President of the Alleppey Bar Association, Advocate Jayakumar had told Verdictum that Advocate Ranjith Sreenivasan and his wife Advocate Lisha were active members of the Bar and that the untimely demise of Ranjith was a loss to the Bar and Society.

Kerala Police has not made substantial progress in the investigation, though some persons connected to the SDPI, the political wing of Popular Front of India have been arrested.


Click here to read/download the Press Release by BCI