The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) on Saturday sought the urgent intervention of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant after several advocates, including senior lawyers, young advocates and women lawyers, were reportedly detained by Delhi Police amid heightened security arrangements ahead of the proposed protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
SCBA President and Senior Advocate Pradeep Rai separately condemned the reported detention of advocates from their chambers, describing the development as “deeply disturbing” and demanding their immediate release.
The detention of Supreme Court advocates from their chambers is deeply disturbing. We are mentioning this urgently before the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India. Arbitrary detention and intimidation of advocates will not be tolerated. I demand immediate release of the lawyers,” Rai stated in a post on X.
The Association adopted a resolution on October 10 condemning what it described as the use of excessive force against advocates who were peacefully protesting in the Supreme Court area. It called upon the CJI to intervene with the concerned authorities to ascertain the whereabouts and safety of every detained lawyer and secure the immediate release of those against whom there were no lawful grounds for detention.
The SCBA further requested that the circumstances surrounding the detentions and the reported use of force be examined, with appropriate action taken in accordance with law.
Several advocates, including Supreme Court Advocate-on-Record Sumita Hazarika, were reportedly detained near the Supreme Court on Saturday. Messages circulated within the legal fraternity alleged that lawyers had been picked up from outside the Court premises as well as from their chambers and taken away in police vehicles.
One message attributed to a detained advocate stated that police personnel had taken away lawyers without disclosing their destination. Other messages claimed that around 100 advocates had been detained and taken to the Yamuna Sports Complex. The precise number of lawyers detained and the grounds for individual detentions could not be independently verified.
Rai’s statement came amid mounting concern within the legal fraternity over the police action against advocates during the security operation in the national capital. The SCBA has urged the CJI to ensure that the detained lawyers’ whereabouts are established, their safety is secured and any detention unsupported by lawful grounds is brought to an end.
The detentions occurred on the day of the proposed demonstration at Jantar Mantar called by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and supporting groups, demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities relating to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The Delhi Police had refused permission for the proposed gathering, citing public-order and security concerns. Authorities subsequently put in place extensive preventive arrangements across Delhi, including restrictions affecting movement and public transport.
The controversy has brought renewed attention to the rights of advocates and citizens to assemble peacefully, as well as the requirement that police action, including preventive detention, remain within the bounds of law.
The SCBA has sought urgent intervention by the CJI and an examination of the circumstances surrounding the reported detentions
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