Supreme Court orders judicial inquiry into Madras High Court clash

New Delhi, Feb 26 (ANI): The apex Court has appointed a committee headed by retired Supreme Court judge B Srikrishna to inquire into the clashes between lawyers and police in the Madras High Court on February 19.

A bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan has directed the Committee to submit its interim report within two weeks.

The bench asked the Committee to take urgent action against officers who allowed the entry of police inside the High Court, which led to a violent police-lawyers clash.

The bench further said that the Joint Commissioner of Police and three DCP's, allegedly involved in the incident, will be transferred to facilitate the inquiry and held that the police station damaged inside the High Court premises during the clashes will not be revived without its order.

The other two committees set up by the High Court to assess the damage done to the lawyers' cars and the high court property during the violence were also permitted to continue their inquiry.

The Supreme Court asked the lawyers, who are on a strike since 29th January, to withdraw their agitation at the earliest.

The court posted the matter for further hearing on March 3.

The Supreme Court had on Wednesday, asked the Tamil Nadu Government to justify the entry of police into the Madras High Court premises on Thursday.

It had also ordered the state government to announce compensation for the injured lawyers.

The violent clash between the police and the advocates in the Madras High Court on February 19 left over 50 lawyers, a judge and several policemen injured. (ANI)