Delhi Police Detain Lawyers Protesting Outside SC in Support of Jantar Mantar Protest, SCBA Writes to CJI

New Delhi: Delhi Police detained lawyers protesting outside the Supreme Court in support of the ongoing agitation demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation. The police subsequently took into custody several lawyers, including senior and women advocates, who were protesting peacefully.

The action has drawn allegations that Delhi Police are suppressing democratic protests and dissent in the national capital while undermining the legal system. The detained lawyers were held at the Yamuna Sports Complex.

Expressing concern over the police action against lawyers, the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) wrote to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, seeking his intervention.

The SCBA urged the Chief Justice to take immediate steps to ensure the safety of the detained lawyers, provide them with legal assistance and secure the prompt release of those still in custody. The association also called for an investigation into the police action, including allegations that protesters were dragged away, and sought appropriate action in accordance with the law.

Police are using six locations, including Chhatrasal Stadium, to detain protesters. The police action has been criticised as a violation of democratic norms, with allegations that protesters, including women and elderly people, were dragged away during detention.

CPI(M) leaders, including Pinarayi Vijayan, M A Baby, M V Govindan, Brinda Karat, K K Shailaja and P K Sreemathy, had also been forcibly taken into custody in a similar manner.