Patna, Apr 7: About 80,000 lawyers of Patna High Court, district courts and other subordinate courts throughout the state will continue with their ceasework till withdrawal or immediate stay on the recent court fee hike by the state government.

In a meeting held here today, altogether 122 associations, representing lawyers across the state, took a decision to this effect.

The associations unanimously decided not to resume their work till the withdrawal of the court fee hike.

''We will not negotiate with the Ministerial Committee constituted by the state government to look into the issue of the court fee hike,'' the leaders of the associations said, adding that unless the government withrew its decision, it was worthless to talk to the Ministerial Committee, headed by Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi.

Meanwhile, former chairman of the state Bar Council Rajendra Prasad Singh has been authorised by the associations to inform the state government about the decision of the lawyers.

The strike by the lawyers of the Patna High Court entered its tenth day today while advocates of the district and subordinate courts were on strike for about one month.

UNI