THE fourth Chhattisgarh state conference of the All India Lawyers Union (AILU) was held on November 28, in Bilaspur. PV Surendranath, national general secretary of All India Lawyers Union and a distinguished Supreme Court advocate, inaugurated the conference.

Surendranath noted that the Constitution of India stands as the invaluable legacy of the independence movement, embodying the principles of secularism, socio-political-economic justice, brotherhood, and socialism. It serves as a guardian of the diversity, cultural values, and human rights within Indian society. These fundamental tenets of the Constitution are presently under siege, with the Modi government attempting to transform our vibrant, multi-coloured society into a monochromatic one, imposing a Hindu nation rooted in Manuwad. The very essence of freedom of expression and our centuries-old tradition of tolerance is in danger today. To counter this looming danger, it is imperative to forge a massive mass movement dedicated to safeguarding the constitution and democracy. Advocates and the All India Lawyers Union play a pivotal role in this endeavour, he said.

AILU treasurer Anil Chauhan, Subodh Pradhan from Madhya Pradesh, and Brajbir Singh from Uttar Pradesh also participated in the conference as special guests.

Addressing the conference, Advocate Anil Chauhan elucidated the intricacies of the constitution's preamble, and described lawyers as the foot soldiers for safeguarding the principles of this foundational document. He drew attention to atrocities such as the beating to death a dalit child for drinking water from a pitcher, and the incarceration of tribals in prisons by branding them as naxalites. Chauhan asserted that these incidents underscore a prevailing deprivation of justice, indicating that socio-political problems persist for the people of our country even after 75 years of independence. He emphasized the urgent need for advocates to confront this deprivation and champion the provision of basic rights to the public. Chauhan underscored the interconnectedness of protecting the rights of the masses and that of the advocates, stressing that AILU must be strengthened to fulfill this crucial role.

AILU state secretary, Shaukat Ali presented a report to the conference, and following a thorough debate among delegates from across the state, the report was adopted. The conference endorsed resolutions advocating the prompt conduct of elections to the State Bar Council, the repeal of pro-corporate and anti-labour labour codes, the enactment of legislation safeguarding the rights of advocates, and condemning Israel's assault on Palestine.

The conference unanimously elected a 31-member state executive, with H N Srivastava as president, Prabhakar Chandel as working president, and Shaukat Ali as secretary. Five delegates were elected at this conference for the national conference of AILU to be held in Kolkata.