Rohini Court Bar Association Ends Strike After Delhi Police ACP Suspended
Rohini Court Bar Association withdraws its work abstention call after Delhi Police ACP Manasvi Vashistha was suspended over allegations of insulting lawyers.
The Rohini Court Bar Association has officially withdrawn its call for work abstention today, November 3, following the suspension of Delhi Police ACP Manasvi Vashistha. The decision comes as a direct result of the police administration taking disciplinary action against the officer, bringing an end to the legal fraternity's protest.
Suspension Ends the Deadlock
In an urgent notice released on Tuesday, the Bar Association informed its members that the competent authorities had placed ACP Manasvi Vashistha under suspension. Upon receiving this news, the association's Executive Committee decided to call off the protest and resume judicial work with immediate effect.
Advocate Pardeep Khatri, the Honorary Secretary of the Rohini Court Bar Association, issued the notice requesting all members to return to their regular duties, ensuring that court proceedings continue as usual.
What Triggered the Conflict?
The tension escalated after ACP Vashistha joined a protest by police personnel outside the Police Headquarters. The police officers had gathered to oppose the transfer of two other officers. However, the legal community's grievance was rooted in a separate, more personal conflict involving the ACP's conduct toward lawyers.
Earlier on Tuesday, lawyers from the Rohini Court Bar Association, the Rouse Avenue Court Bar Association, and other legal bodies had approached the Commissioner of Police. They demanded the suspension of Vashistha, alleging that he had made insulting remarks against the legal profession.
The Root of the Dispute: The Shahdara Incident
The friction between the advocates and the police dates back to late October. On October 23, a group of advocates visited the Shahdara Police Station to seek legal action against certain individuals. During this visit, the ACP and the SHO of Shahdara Police Station reportedly assured the lawyers that the named suspects would be arrested, noting that the accused were present at the station at the time.
However, by October 24, the advocates discovered that the suspects had not been arrested and had instead been released. When the lawyers returned to the station to demand accountability and express their concerns over how the matter was handled, a confrontation occurred.
It is alleged that during this encounter, ACP Manasvi Vashistha threatened and intimidated the advocates present, sparking outrage across various bar associations in the city.
Unity of the Legal Fraternity
In its official communication, the Rohini Court Bar Association praised the collective unity and solidarity shown by its members. The association stated that the protest was a necessary step in upholding the dignity and honor of the legal fraternity.
The association reiterated that it would continue to stand firmly for the dignity, self-respect, and welfare of its members, seeking accountability whenever the interests of the legal profession are compromised.
This latest development follows a previous period of unrest on October 28, when the Coordination Committee of All Delhi Bar Associations had called for a two-day abstention from judicial work following the transfer of the ACP of Gandhi Nagar and the SHO of Shahdara Police Station, before eventually resuming work.