Continue work from today: Bar Council appeals to lawyers

NEW DELHI: Courtrooms across Delhi saw lawyers asking for adjournments in the wake of the lawyers’ strike called by the Bar Council of India after a clash between the ‘men in black’ and Delhi Police officials turned violent on Saturday afternoon. The strike was called after three lawyers received gunshot wounds in the clash that also resulted in several vehicles being set on fire.

The strike on Monday showed spikes of violence and unruliness, with incidents of journalists, cops and members of the public being assaulted by people presumed to be advocates cropping-up throughout the day.

However, after the Delhi High Court on Sunday ordered a judicial probe into the incident and also directed two senior officials of the Delhi Police to be transferred till the probe was completed, the Bar Council of India had issued a statement, asking all members of the Bar to not continue the strike beyond Monday.

The Bar Council also issued another statement on Monday, reiterating that lawyers continue executing their duties as officers of the court from today onwards. However, after reports showing incidents of

lawyers purportedly assaulting members of the public, journalists and even one police official, the Bar Council said that information about these incidents is being presented “in order to malign the image of the Bar”.

The BCI said, “We know that all these are being made in order to malign the image of the Bar. An overwhelming majority of members of the Bar are peace-loving and law-abiding citizens.

The Council also asked members of the Bar to be cautious and keep away from being part of any unruly mobs.