This was stated in the resolution passed by the association members at a meeting on Tuesday, following reported threats by some criminals to senior lawyer Gopal Ramani at Narmada Bhavan recently.

Association president, Narendra Tiwari told Express Newsline that the lawyers' fraternity was incensed at the way criminals were getting an easy access to the lawyers and demanded adequate security measures to prevent reoccurrence of such `shameful incidents'.

He claimed that recently when Ramani had gone to Narmada Bhavan in connection with a criminal case against four accused hailing from Akota village, he was intercepted and threatened of dire consequences by some people. ``The criminals are making a mockery of the system. If the lawyers themselves start feeling secure, the judicial system would be severely affected,'' he said.

Tiwari said that after sending a copy of the resolution to the police commissioner, they would `watch the situation' and if no action was taken then, he threatened, the lawyers would have to take some severe steps.

On Monday, the association members had struck work in the courts to protest against the threatening incidents. Though the judicial process had come to a grinding halt because of the strike, work went on smoothly on Tuesday.