Taking the suo moto cognisance of the clash between lawyers at Delhi’s Tis Hazari Court and police on Saturday, the Delhi High Court on Sunday issued notices to the Delhi Police, Bar Council of India, Bar Council of Delhi, Delhi Government, all bar association of district courts of Delhi and the Delhi High Court Bar Association.
While seeking response from the concerned authorities, a division bench headed by High Court Chief Jutice DN Patel said, “We sat for four hours yesterday, we are sitting today again. We want to resolve the situation and it should be a collective effort.”
The court further directed all the allegedly responsible police officials to be present during the hearing.
Chief Justice of Delhi HC, DN Patel held a meeting with the senior police officials to discuss the situation in which some judges of Delhi High Court were also present, sources told IANS.
The Supreme Court Bar Association also met Justice Patel over the issue. It is learned that Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik will meet Justice Patel on Sunday to discuss on the issue.
Three senior judges of Delhi High Court have visited advocate Vijay Varma, who received a bullet injury on his chest during the clash, at the St Stephens Hospital, sources told IANS.
Senior Congress leader and advocate Salman Khurshid said, “The attack on the lawyers is a matter of concern. I believe the attack on the lawyers is a problem for the democracy. Proper inquiry should be done, Facts and truth should come out but it’s a sad incident.”
Senior advocate and Congress leader K.T.S. Tulsi said: “The police and lawyers should not be at loggerheads with each other as they are the two arms of the court. Such incidents of manhandling the lawyers by the police is saddening.”
On Saturday, a minor argument between lawyer and some policemen over parking at the Tis Hazari court complex broke down, resulting in a violence and arson, and left lawyer Vijay Varma with a bullet injury.
“Twenty police officials, including one Addl DCP and two SHOs have sustained injuries. Eight advocates have also sustained injuries. In the fire, 12 private motorcycles, one QRT gypsy of the police and eight jail vans outside the lock-up were damaged,” the police said.
The police said that the advocates assaulted them and set ablaze some police vehicles.
A Special Investigation Team comprising officials of the Crime Branch and headed by Joint Commissioner of Police will be formed to probe the sequence of event.