violence

A Gujarat advocate has filed a public interest litigation (PIL), alleging that another lawyer was assaulted by a group of advocates trying to enforce Monday’s Bar Council of India’s (BCI) strike to protest against police-lawyer violence.

Advocate Aiml Panchal’s PIL stated that fellow advocate Jal Unwala was humiliated while president, vice-president and office bearers of the Gujarat High Court Advocates’ Association (GHAA) and the assistant solicitor general looked on, the Times of India and Indian Express reported.

The Express reported that Unwala alleged that 30 to 35 lawyers “barged into his chamber”, while one slapped him. According to the TOI:

When they came to know that one lawyer conducted a case before Justice R H Shukla, they allegedly barged in his chamber, abused and physically assaulted him before his office staff. The lawyer complained before Chief Justice Bhaskar Bhattacharya demanding action against striking lawyers, who indulged in his manhandling, as per the provisions of a Supreme Court order by which it termed the strike ‘illegal’.

The judges in the PIL, Chief Justice Bhaskar Bhattacharya and Justice Pardiwala, recused themselves yesterday, with the case set to go before another bench now.

Exclusive: The Delhi bar council held an emergency meeting yesterday, ruling on allegations by its youngest member Rajesh Mishra’ that he was assaulted by a pistol-armed group of lawyers, including elected Delhi bar council member [...], following an altercation ostensibly over recognition of a local bar association.

The bench has called an extraordinary meeting to deal with lawyers' growing violence against judges, after a group of lawyers allegedly assaulted a District Court judge on Wednesday.

Delhi lawyers Vikas Gupta and Rekha Sharma allegedly slapped Additional District Judge Pankaj Gupta on Wednesday. Gupta was arrested outside Rohini Court early on Thursday morning before a crowd of lawyers and leaders of the lower court bar gathered.

The Judicial Officers Association issued a press calling a general meeting to discuss the growing number of incidents of court room hooliganism.

Bar Council of India chairman SNP Sinha told Legally India: "I don’t know the full facts of this case but if it is true then it is deplorable. This is not the way a lawyer should conduct himself in the court."

The bench has also formed a fact finding committee to investigate the case under the chairmanship of senior advocate A S Chandhioke.

Sources told Legally India that bar leaders have attempted to settle the matter amicably out of court but that the judicial officers have not responded.

Gupta's lawyers have failed to secure bail for their client and he remains in custody.

Senior advocate A S Chandhioke said: "It is a very unfortunate incident and should not have happened. We will look into the issue and I am hopeful that the Bar Council and the Bar Association concerned shall do whatever is necessary."