Bar Council of India has written to the Chief Justice of India, Justice SA Bobde and the Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court, Justice Govind Mathur, requesting them to take immediate steps against the police personnel who assaulted an advocate in an incident which took place at Etah, Uttar Pradesh, a few days back.
“It is nothing but open Gundagardi of Uttar Pradesh Police", Bar Council of India (BCI) has remarked as it states that there is" no limit" to atrocities by Uttar Pradesh Police.
Taking a serious view of the incident, the lawyer's body has demanded that a direction be issued to the Uttar Pradesh Government to immediately put the guilty personnel "under suspension, transfer them and remove them from service".
BCI has also resolved to write to the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah for enactment of suitable laws to provide protection to the lawyers in the country.
".. incidents were witnessed in West Bengal, Bihar and almost all states. Such actions of the police is rather worse than the crime committed by any hardened criminals.", the letter reads.
The letter informs that "UP Police broke open the door of a house and dragged and pulled an Advocate (who was in Advocate's dress) and assaulted him mercilessly".
It is added that a video of this incident went viral and the concerns raised by the Uttar Pradesh Bar Council on the assault were not even considered by Yogi Adityanath government in the State.
Alleging that the police personnel were acting with some "ulterior motive", BCI cautions that if such incidents of brutality are ignored by the judiciary and the government, the "Bar will have no option except to come on roads".
In the letter, the BCI has also urged that physical hearings be resumed throughout the country without any further delay.
BCI has expressed serious concern over the intent of the government to introduce virtual hearings and give a go-bye to physical hearings.
Further, it is asserted that since there is no scope for Indian law firms or lawyers to practice in foreign countries, why should the issue of allowing foreign law firms to practice in India be raised in the Parliament.
Read the letter here: