Delhi Lawyers Call Strike Over FIR and Alleged Police Intimidation
Delhi Bar Association Coordination Committee calls for a strike after alleged intimidation of advocates by Shahdara police officers.
The legal community in the national capital is gearing up for a standoff with the police. The Coordination Committee of the Delhi Bar Association has called for a complete abstention from judicial work this Tuesday, sparking a Delhi lawyers strike in protest against the registration of an FIR and alleged threats issued to advocates by police officials at the Shahdara Police Station.
The Spark: An Assault and a Disputed FIR
The tension traces back to an incident involving Advocate Lalit Bansal, who reportedly suffered a serious head injury following a violent assault. Following the attack, Advocate Amulya Ratan filed a formal complaint to initiate legal proceedings against the perpetrators.
On the evening of October 23, a group of advocates visited the Shahdara Police Station to ensure that the case was being handled with the necessary urgency and that appropriate legal action was being taken against the accused individuals.
Broken Promises and Alleged Threats
According to the Coordination Committee, the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) and the Station House Officer (SHO) of the Shahdara Police Station had initially assured the visiting lawyers that the persons named in the case would be arrested.
However, the situation took a turn on October 24 when the advocates discovered that the suspects had not been taken into custody and had reportedly been released. This revelation led the lawyers to return to the police station to demand accountability and question the handling of the investigation.
Clash with Senior Officials
The confrontation escalated when the advocates sought answers regarding the release of the accused. The Coordination Committee alleges that during this interaction, ACP Manasvi Vashishta resorted to intimidation, allegedly threatening the advocates who were present at the station.
Demands for Accountability
In response to these developments, the Coordination Committee held a meeting on Monday, where they resolved to halt all judicial work. Advocate Neeraj, the Chairman of the Coordination Committee, issued a circular on Monday evening formalizing the call for abstention.
The lawyers' body has put forward two primary demands to the authorities:
- The immediate suspension of ACP Manasvi Vashishta.
- The immediate suspension of the SHO of the Shahdara Police Station.
The committee has insisted that these suspensions remain in place pending an impartial inquiry into the conduct of the officers and the circumstances surrounding the handling of the assault case.