Uttar Pradesh Lawyers Stage Protests Against Police Actions Following Ghaziabad Courtroom Clash

Lawyers in Uttar Pradesh held protests on Monday, opposing a recent police baton charge against their colleagues at the Ghaziabad district court. Legal professionals from Ghaziabad, Prayagraj, Lucknow, Varanasi, and Etah demanded action against both the police and the judge involved in the incident.

The confrontation on October 29 began with a heated exchange between a judge and a lawyer in Ghaziabad. This escalated into a clash between police and lawyers at the district court. The Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh called on lawyers statewide to oppose police misconduct and defend their rights.

Protests and Demands Across Districts

In Ghaziabad, bar association members blocked court entrances and halted legal work. Deepak Sharma, President of the Ghaziabad Bar Association, called for the suspension of District and Sessions Judge Anil Kumar and the transfer of officers involved in the baton charge. He also demanded Rs 2 lakh for each injured lawyer's medical expenses.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Abhishek Srivastav noted that security measures were increased at the courthouse following the lawyers' actions. Meanwhile, in Prayagraj, the Ghaziabad Bar Association filed a writ petition in the Allahabad High Court. They requested a Special Investigation Team probe under high court supervision.

In Lucknow, Oudh Bar Association members abstained from judicial duties at the Allahabad High Court's Lucknow bench after passing a resolution on Sunday. Similarly, lawyers in Varanasi boycotted court proceedings. Former Varanasi Bar Council President Vivek Shankar Tiwari stated, "In response to the Uttar Pradesh Bar Council's call, we've refrained from judicial duties today. This strike will persist if action isn't taken."

Statewide Legal Community Response

In Kaushambi, Model District Bar Association Secretary Laxmikant Tripathi declared that lawyers would not resume work until accountability was established in Ghaziabad. Lawyers there marched from the district court to the collectorate, demanding action against those involved.

In Etah's Jalesar tehsil, the Tehsil Bar Association submitted a memorandum to Sub Divisional Magistrate Vipin Kumar Morwal, addressed to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Sunil Yadav, who led this demonstration, insisted on criminal charges against Ghaziabad police and withdrawal of false cases against lawyers.

The Allahabad High Court Bar Association (HCBA) also protested in Prayagraj by suspending judicial activities for the day. They announced plans to file a criminal contempt petition against the Ghaziabad district judge at the Allahabad High Court soon.

The legal community across Uttar Pradesh remains firm in its demand for justice and accountability following the events in Ghaziabad. Their collective actions highlight ongoing concerns about police conduct and judicial fairness within the state.