A group of lawyers clashed with baton-wielding policemen and torched a police post inside the Ghaziabad district court complex on Tuesday after a judge ordered protesting lawyers during a bail hearing, senior police officers said. The police were called to remove a group of
Additional Commissioner of Police Dinesh Kumar P said that the incident took place around 11.30 am. He said the lawyers were asking for the bail hearing to be moved, but the judge denied the request.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (City) Rajesh Kumar said the police resorted to lathi charge against the lawyers as they were allegedly being aggressive inside the courtroom. Kumar added that he took the district judge to his chamber along with another senior officer.
District Bar Association president Deepak Sharma did not respond to repeated calls seeking a response.
Read more: Clash between police and lawyers in Ghaziabad court video
Senior advocate Nehar Singh Yadav condemned the police action. “This is the first time lawyers have been charged with batons inside the courtroom. At least 20 lawyers were injured. We requested the judge to either hear the case or transfer it to another court. Both requests. were rejected. We will formulate a strategy and start a dharna protest after the Diwali holidays,” said Yadav, who was present in the courtroom at the time of the incident.
Senior officers said that soon after the incident, a heavy contingent of state police besides personnel of Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was deployed in the court premises.
DCP (city) Kumar said they are in the process of filing two separate First Information Reports (FIRs) in the matter. “We are in the process of registering two FIRs. One will be filed on the complaint of the district judge's courtroom staff and the other on the complaint of the in-charge of the police post inside the court premises. vandalized and burnt the furniture,” the DCP said.
Several videos of the incident surfaced on social media, some showing heated exchanges between lawyers and court officers and others showing police beating lawyers with sticks. HT could not independently verify the authenticity of the videos.
District Judge Anil Kumar, who was present in the courtroom when the clash took place, could not be reached for comment. His staff said the judge was “busy.”
When contacted, court manager Manoj Kumar Mishra said he was on official leave.
Ghaziabad Court Administrative Officer Satyendra Kumar Verma said that a meeting is being held to discuss the incident. “So far, we have not heard from the district judge. The district judge will decide further action. The court will now remain closed for the Diwali vacation till November 3. It will reopen the next day,” Kumar said.