Row Over Parking Among Paramount Law Abiding Factions, Police & Advocates Turns Violent

On November 2, 2019 police personnel and lawyers clashed over a parking dispute at the Tis Hazari in the afternoon. A police car was set ablaze and eight other were vandalised sending a column of thick smoke into the city’s already hazy sky.  

As per the media sources the trouble began when a lawyer entered into a dispute with some cops after his car grazed a police van while parking. They put him in the lockup and beat him up badly. Several judges went there to secure his release, but the police wouldn’t give in,” it quoted a senior lawyer as saying.

According to news agency PTI, the injured included at least 10 police personnel. Although lawyers claimed that a colleague was admitted to the nearby St Stephen’s Hospital after being shot by cops, police denied resorting to firing. A journalist belonging to a prominent news agency was also assaulted by irate protesters. 

Irate lawyers barricaded themselves inside the court premises during the violence, preventing police and media persons from entering. Others went on the rampage, damaging vehicles and setting at least one of the police cars stationed at the complex afire. Ten fire engines were summoned to douse the fire in the midst of the violence.

Bar associations have condemned the incident and called for a one-day strike across all. “We strongly condemn the brutal and unprovoked attack on lawyers by police at Tis Hazari Court. One lawyer is critical. A young lawyer was beaten in the lock-up. This is a clear case of police high-handedness, and all the cops involved should be dismissed and prosecuted. We stand with the lawyers,” said Mr. KC Mittal, chairman of the Bar Council of Delhi on being approached by media agencies. The BCI has also appealed to the Lt. Governor and Police Commissioner of Delhi to immediately lodge an FIR against the policemen who were guilty.  

Bar associations have condemned the incident and called for a one-day strike across all district courts in Delhi on November 4, 2019.

By: Babita Sharma

         Editor

INBA Viewpoint