New Delhi, October 30: The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has strongly condemned the October 29 lathi charge against lawyers by the Uttar Pradesh police at the Ghaziabad district court.
In a statement on Wednesday, SCBA Secretary Vikrant Yadav called for an independent judicial inquiry by a sitting Allahabad High Court judge into what it described as “high-handedness” by the police.
The SCBA also demands accountability for the district and sessions judge, who reportedly called for police intervention against protesting lawyers.
The incident unfolded when a group of advocates clashed with police during a bail hearing, where they were reportedly demanding the transfer of the case. Following police intervention, visuals circulated online showed chaotic scenes of police beating lawyers and lawyers allegedly vandalizing a police post on the premises. This prompted the Ghaziabad Bar Association to halt court activities and convene an emergency meeting.
The SCBA’s resolution further called for the dismissal of the responsible police officers and judicial authorities, alongside compensation for injured lawyers. Emphasizing the need for protection of lawyers, the association urged the Bar Council of India and state bar councils to ensure that advocates can fulfill their duties without fear of intimidation.