Meerut, Sept. 23 -- Lawyers in Meerut began a strike on Wednesday to press for the long-standing demand for a high court bench in western Uttar Pradesh, with advocates staying away from judicial work and staging protests across the court premises. The agitation has received support from lawyers in 22 districts of western Uttar Pradesh.

The decision to launch the strike was taken at a meeting of lawyers on Tuesday. Since Wednesday morning, advocates raised slogans, demonstrated and kept away from court proceedings.

Banners carrying the slogan "No Bench, No Vote" have been put up at the entrances of the court complex. Lawyers have also decided to prohibit all BJP elected representatives from entering the court premises.

At Tuesday's meet...