Advocates detained near the Supreme Court were released following representations by the SCBA and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta. (Img: X)
New Delhi: Several advocates detained by the Delhi Police during protests near the Supreme Court on Saturday were released following the intervention of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, after the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and the Solicitor General of India, Tushar Mehta, took up the matter with him.
The development came amid heightened security across the national capital ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) proposed demonstration at Jantar Mantar against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The detention of lawyers, including senior and young advocates and women lawyers, prompted the SCBA to seek the CJI’s urgent intervention, raising concerns over the alleged use of excessive police force against advocates who were reportedly participating in a peaceful protest in the Supreme Court area.
In a resolution passed on October 10, the SCBA expressed grave concern over reports that several advocates had been detained by the police while protesting in the vicinity of the Supreme Court.
The Bar Association urged the CJI to take up the matter with the authorities concerned to establish the whereabouts and ensure the safety of every detained advocate. It also called for those detained without lawful grounds to be released immediately and for access to legal assistance to be ensured.
The association further sought an examination of the circumstances surrounding the detentions and the reported use of force, urging that appropriate action be taken in accordance with law.
SCBA Honorary Secretary Pragya Baghel communicated the association’s concerns to the CJI. The Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA) also brought the matter to his attention.
Following the representations, CJI Surya Kant spoke to the authorities concerned regarding the detained lawyers. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta is also understood to have intervened in the matter.
The CJI subsequently indicated that the advocates had been released following his verbal intervention.
The intervention came after members of the legal fraternity raised concerns about the treatment of lawyers detained during the protest. The SCBA also called for accountability over the alleged use of excessive force, particularly against women advocates.
The incident occurred as Delhi witnessed extensive security arrangements and restrictions ahead of the CJP’s planned demonstration at Jantar Mantar. The protest was intended to demand Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over allegations concerning irregularities in electoral rolls and the SIR exercise.
Authorities had imposed heightened security measures across parts of the capital, with police detaining protesters and restricting access to several areas. The measures also triggered concerns over disruptions to public transport and the ability of demonstrators to reach the proposed protest venue.
The CJP and opposition groups have raised allegations concerning the revision of electoral rolls, while the Election Commission has maintained that the exercise is intended to verify and update voter lists.
The release of the detained advocates followed the intervention of the CJI and representations by the SCBA, SCAORA and the Solicitor General. The SCBA has separately sought scrutiny of the circumstances surrounding the detentions and the reported use of force.
