The Supreme Court Bar Association on Saturday urged Chief Justice of India Surya Kant to intervene after police detained many lawyers. The association condemned the reported use of excessive force against advocates protesting near Jantar Mantar. Honorary secretary Pragya Baghel later confirmed that all the detained lawyers got released safely.
The Supreme Court Bar Association on Saturday condemned the reported use of "excessive force" against lawyers and urged Chief Justice of India Surya Kant to intervene urgently. In a resolution, the SCBA said it had been informed that many advocates, including senior and young lawyers and particularly women advocates, had been detained.
Sources said the lawyers were on their way to Jantar Mantar, where the CJP had called for a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Later in the day, SCBA honorary secretary Pragya Baghel said all the detained lawyers had been released.
In its resolution, the SCBA said, "The Supreme Court Bar Association expresses its grave concern and condemns the reported use of excessive force against, and detention of, senior and young advocates, particularly women advocates, who were peacefully protesting in the Supreme Court area today."
The association also said, "The Supreme Court Bar Association resolves to request the Chief Justice of India to intervene urgently and take up the matter with the concerned authorities so that the whereabouts and safety of every detained advocate are ascertained, they are given access to legal assistance, and those against whom there are no lawful grounds for detention are released immediately."
The SCBA further requested that the circumstances of the detention and the reported use of force be examined and that appropriate action be taken in accordance with law. "A copy of this resolution shall be placed before the Chief Justice of India for urgent consideration," it said.
The CJP had called the proposed demonstration against CEC Gyanesh Kumar over allegations of voter-list manipulation during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and changes relating to Form 6, used for voter registration. The SCBA's resolution, meanwhile, sought urgent intervention, raised concerns over the reported use of force and detentions, and was later followed by confirmation that all detained lawyers had been released.