2019 Tis Hazari violence: Delhi High Court grants extension for completion of probe

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday extended till July 31 the time given to the one-member commission probing the 2019 clashes between lawyers and police at the Tis Hazari court complex (Court In Its Own Motion v Union of India and Ors)..A Division Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh granted the extension after it received a letter from one-man panel Justice (Retd) SP Garg requesting the same..The letter dated December 18 stated that though a large number of witnesses have been examined, several others are still to record their statements, and therefore, the time to complete the inquiry should be extended..The Bench agreed and noted that looking at the facts and circumstances as well as the pandemic situation in the national capital, more time should be given. The Court will now consider the matter on August 8..Clashes erupted between lawyers and Delhi Police personnel on November 2, 2019, reportedly over a parking dispute. According to reports, at least 10 police personnel including an ACP-rank officer sustained injuries during the violence and as many as 17 vehicles were set on fire.The Delhi High Court subsequently took suo motu cognisance of the violence and appointed a one-member commission to probe the violence.While lawyers had alleged that the Delhi Police fired bullets on the crowd, a statement by the police said that the shots were fired in the air for safety of undertrial prisoners and in self-defense, after a group of lawyers stormed the police lockup. The statement informed that complaints from both sides were registered and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Crime Branch would investigate the cases..Tis Hazari Violence: Delhi HC takes suo motu cognizance, notice to Delhi Police, Bar Councils