BCI Condemns Police Protest as Illegal [Read Statement]

Bar Council of India has released a statement seeking a High Level Committee to be appointed to find as to who all were involved in planning the police protests, which the body has deemed as illegal.

In addition to this, the Council has also demanded the arrest of police officers who had planned the said protests within one week, failing which, the Bar will resort to peaceful dharna.

In the statement released just hours prior to the hearing which is scheduled before the Delhi High Court, the BCI has stated that police officers remained absent from duty for hours, used derogatory language against the lawyers and threatened to smash and kill the lawyers openly.

According to the Council, the aforementioned behaviour attracts liability under section 3 of Police Forces (Restriction Rights) Act, which lays down imprisonment of upto 2 years. It has asked the Police Commissioner to look into the matter.

It is also stated by the BCI that the police protest was well planned and it was intended to threaten not just the lawyers but also the government and the judiciary. Therefore, the body demands disciplinary action to suspend all those who participated in the protests and the dismissal of those who were actively shouting slogans.

On the issue of the video from outside the Saket court, which had gone viral, the Body has stated that even if the events in the video are purported to be true, it only attracts a case under section 323 of IPC. The Body has condemned the adding of the offence of dacoity against the lawyer who was captured in the video.

BCI has also asked media to restrain itself from reporting the 'hooliganism' of such protests, which the Council has also termed as 'illegal' and 'unconstitutional'.

In addition to this, BCI has requested the lawyers to suspend the abstinence from work for 10 days and resume working. However, if the demand of arrest is not fulfilled within 10 days, BCI will decide on future course of action. 

Click here to download the statement