New Delhi: The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), while calling the recent lathi charge action by police on advocates inside court premises in Ghaziabad an “inhuman and violent” act, condemned the police action in a resolution passed by it on Wednesday and has sought an inquiry against the judge who summoned the police to remove a group of protesting lawyers.
“Supreme Court Bar Association strongly condemns the inhumane and violent act of police on advocates inside court premises in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, under the direction of Mr Anil Kumar-X (Ld District & Sessions Judge) Ghaziabad. The lathi charge on the advocates is high-handedness of UP Police, which is a clear violation of their rights and the rule of law,” the SCBA said in its resolution.
Shall not tolerate any attack on prestige of advocates: SCBA resolution
The SCBA further said that it “shall not tolerate any attack on the prestige of advocates” and has demanded immediate an inquiry into the conduct of Ghaziabad District & Sessions Judge Anil Kumar-X by a sitting Judge of the Allahabad High Court headed by the Chief Justice of the High Court along with Administrative Judge of of the High Court looking after the affairs of Ghaziabad District,
Investigate incident and bring guilty Ghaziabad District & Sessions Judge and police officers to justice: SCBA resolution
The SCBA has also demanded from the High Court and the Uttar Pradesh government to investigate the incident and bring the guilty Ghaziabad District & Sessions Judge and police officers to justice, dismiss the services of Ghaziabad District & Sessions Judge Anil Kumar-X and police officers, responsible for the lathi charge, pay compensation to the advocates injured in the incident, take measures to ensure that such incidents do not recur and to take steps to improve the law and order situation in the State and to ensure that the police personnel are accountable for their actions.
The SCBA has also demanded to introduce and implement the Advocates Protection Act for protection of advocates and its families against such brutal incidents.
The SCBA has also called upon the Bar Council of India (BCI) and state Bar Councils to take necessary steps to protect the rights of advocates and to ensure that they are able to discharge their duties without fear of intimidation or harassment.
Supreme Court Bar Association stands in solidarity with the advocates of Ghaziabad: SCBA resolution
“Supreme Court Bar Association stands in solidarity with the advocates of Ghaziabad and pledges to do everything in its power to ensure that justice is served,” the SCBA said in its resolution.
As per a news agency PTI report, advocates and police personnel came to blows in a court in Ghaziabad on October 29 after the judge summoned the police force to remove a group of lawyers raising slogans against him over a disagreement following a heated altercation between an advocate and the judge over the hearing of an anticipatory bail case. While some lawyers claimed that they have suffered injuries during the incident, police officials have alleged that agitating lawyers had set a local police outpost ablaze.
