Tis Hazari scuffle: Bar directs Delhi Council to settle lawyers-police standoff amicably

NEW DELHI: The Bar Council of India (BCI) on Thursday directed the Bar Council of Delhi to convene a meeting between lawyers and the Delhi police for amicable settlement of the ongoing standoff over the Tis Hazari scuffle, which took place on November 2.

According to reprts, the BCI has directed the Delhi Bar council to make a list of various representatives of various bar associations and send their names the the LG.

The BCI, in its letter, further stated that a meeting between police and agitating lawyers can be convened thereafter to amicably settle the issue.

It may be noted that lawyers in Delhi have abstained from work even on Thursday.  

Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik is also expected to meet police personnel allegedly beaten up by protesting lawyers after clashes over a parking issue at the Tis Hazari Court complex on November 2.

The development comes a day after Delhi Police faced a major embarrassment as Delhi High Court on Wednesday declined to give any clarification or modification of its earlier order saying that it was "self-explanatory" in connection with the Tis Hazari court incident.

The high court passed the order while hearing a petition filed by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in connection with the Tis Hazari incident.

The division bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Hari Shankar said that the order dated November 3 was only meant for the Tis Hazari incident on November 2 in which two FIRs were lodged.

The bench also said that the judicial inquiry panel, which was set up to look into the clash, would continue to function without any influence of the observation made by the court.

Lawyers said the order of the Delhi High Court was clear and there was no reason to file an application for seeking clarification. The Bar Council of India (BCI) told the bench that the police should not be given any further power to lodge FIRs in this matter before prior permission of the court or the judicial enquiry.

The bar council further stated that police had registered FIRs against lawyers under sections including dacoity in the Saket court matter and added that this was ''an abuse of power.''

Two FIRs were registered in connection with the alleged assault of a police officer outside Saket district court here.

Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Maninder Acharya, appearing for the MHA said that the order of no coercive step should be only limited to those two first dated November 2, we are seeking clarification.

Bar associations are opposing the MHA's application, filed on Tuesday, seeking clarification of the Delhi High Court`s order in which it had directed the Delhi Police to not take any coercive action against lawyers while directing Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik to transfer Special Commissioner Sanjay Singh and Additional DCP Harinder Singh, in connection with the case.

Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra contended that the MHA`s application should be dismissed.

Meanwhile, Rakesh Khanna, president of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) urged the court to stop the media reporting of the matter. He argued that the media is not showing the true picture.

The lawyers have been protesting against a clash between police and lawyers at Tis Hazari Court complex on November 2, which left at least 20 cops and several advocates injured.

A day later on November 3, a group of advocates had allegedly assaulted a policeman outside the Saket district court.

Lawyers have been protesting at several places across the city against the scuffle.

A group of lawyers also protested outside the Supreme Court on Monday, demanding the enforcement of Lawyers` Protection Act. One Assistant Sub-Inspector was suspended and a special investigation team (SIT) was constituted to probe the violence on Saturday.

Some advocates sustained bullet injuries after police allegedly opened fire on them.

A total of around 20 police personnel including Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (North), two Station House Officers (SHOs) and eight lawyers sustained injuries in the incident.

(With Agency inputs)