Delhi HC Bar condemns police action on lawyers at protest against CEC

The Delhi High Court Bar Association has condemned the detention of lawyers and alleged police excess during a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the SIR exercise. It has sought an impartial inquiry, citing video of advocates being dragged and reports that the Constitution's Preamble was torn.

In Short

• Bar association said several advocates, including women, faced disproportionate force
• Resolution demanded an impartial inquiry and accountability for every officer involved
• Video footage allegedly showed police dragging lawyers, including senior advocates

The Delhi High Court Bar Association on Saturday condemned the detention of several lawyers and what it called the excessive use of force by police during a peaceful protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the SIR exercise.

In a resolution, the bar association strongly disapproved of the alleged disproportionate use of force against lawyers, including women advocates, and urged the authorities to carry out an impartial inquiry, fix responsibility and take action against those found responsible. It also voiced concern over reported incidents of police personnel tearing the Preamble of the Constitution.

The resolution, signed by DHCBA president and senior advocate N Hariharan and honorary secretary Vikram Singh Panwar, said, "Video footage that has surfaced depicts lawyers, including senior advocates, being physically dragged by the police." It added, "Such high-handed and undignified treatment of members of the legal fraternity is wholly reprehensible and constitutes a grave affront to their dignity and constitutional rights."

Stressing the constitutional right to peaceful assembly and dissent, the DHCBA said the maintenance of public order cannot be used as a pretext for arbitrary detention or excessive force against peaceful protesters. Referring to the reported tearing of the Preamble, it said such an act strikes at the ideals and values on which the republic is founded.

The protest had been called by the Cockroach Janta Party against Kumar over allegations of voter-list manipulation during the Special Intensive Revision of the electoral roll and changes linked to Form 6, which is used for voter registration. The DHCBA said the detentions, the alleged use of force and the reported acts during the protest should be examined through an impartial inquiry.

- Ends