Protesting against Centre's proposal to impose service tax on law firms, lawyers of all the five district courts went on a day's token strike on Thursday disrupting functioning of the courts.

Many litigants had to return home. However, urgent legal work like bail applications were taken up by lawyers. "We will not tolerate any attempt by the government to impose service tax on the legal fraternity. If the government does not drop the proposal, we will intensify the agitation,'' stated a release by the Co-Ordination Committee of All Bar Associations of Delhi.

"No advocate appeared in cases mentioned in Patiala House, Tis Hazari, Karkardooma, Rohini and Dwarka courts. The matters listed for the day were adjourned,'' said secretary of Delhi Bar Association Jaiveer Singh Chauhan.

The Co-Ordination Committee said the legal profession cannot be considered as a trade or business. It was exempted from service tax as it cannot be equated with commercial activities and services provided by others for gaining profit.