Delhi High Court Chief Justice DN Patel discussed the situation after Tis Hazari violence yesterday with senior police officials, sources said.

A scuffle broke out between lawyers and police personnel outside Tis Hazari Court complex in Delhi on Saturday afternoon, in which two advocates were, injured which resulted in violence and arson. A police vehicle was also set afire as an argument between some lawyers and police personnel apparently over a parking issue turned ugly.

Advertisement

The police alleged that the advocates assaulted them and set ablaze some police vehicles.

According to sources, some judges of the Delhi High Court were also present at the meeting, which was held late on Saturday.

The Supreme Court Bar Association members also met Justice Patel and the Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik will meet Justice Patel today.

According to sources, three senior judges of the Delhi High Court have visited advocate Vijay Varma, who received a bullet injury on his chest during the clash, at the St Stephens Hospital.

Commenting on the incident, 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 KTS 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.”

A minor argument between a lawyer and some policemen over parking at the Tis Hazari court complex on Saturday resulted in a violence and arson, and left lawyer Verma with a bullet injury.

The police said, “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.”

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising officials of the Crime Branch and headed by Joint Commissioner of Police will be formed to probe the sequence of event. Action will be taken on the findings of the SIT.

Yesterday, the lawyers sat on a protest at the gate of the court premises, alleging that the police personnel had opened fire during the incident and demanded action against those involved. Though, the police denied that it had opened fire.

The Supreme Court had last in September termed parking as one of the “most serious problems” in the national capital and directed the Delhi government to ensure that proper assessment of parking needs for the next 25 years is done while granting permission for building any structure.

The issue of parking had cropped up before the top court while hearing the pollution matter related to Delhi-national capital region (NCR).