Chennai, Feb 25 : Most of the lawyers including government advocates preferred to stay away from the first day of resumption in the Madras High Court proceedings after it was ordered to be closed by acting Chief Justice S J Mukhopathaya following a police-lawyers clash in the court premises.

The judges kept sitting in empty court halls here on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the fast by the advocates demanding action against police continued on the third day today.

However, these protests were highly criticised by the Supreme Court today.

The apex court has asked the Tamil Nadu Government to justify the entry of police into the Madras High Court premises on February
19.

It has directed the State Government to assess the damage done to the lawyers'' cars and the high court building in the police-lawyers clash and announce compensation for the injured lawyers by Thursday.

The full bench of the court on February 20 had declared holiday for the courts till today, after the clashes, which had left over 50 lawyers, a judge and several policemen injured. (ANI)