Shopkeepers in Dadar-Naigaon downed their shutters in fear. Pics/Pradeep Dhivar, Ashish Raje

The protests yesterday impacted the functioning of courts and even affected undertrials lodged in prisons across the state. Most courts in the city wore a deserted look. Advocate Dinesh Tiwari, at Esplanade court, said, "Very few matters were taken on board. Overall attendance was 10 to 20 per cent in the lower courts, as many lawyers were off duty. Most cases were adjourned and court staff that turned up was busy completing urgent paperwork."