BCI condemns police assault on Etah Advocate

"IT IS NOTHING BUT OPEN GUNDAGARDI OF UTTAR PRADESH POLICE" - BAR COUNCIL OF INDIA (SLIDE 1, picture below)

Background

• Recently, a video from Etah, a district in the state of Uttar Pradesh went viral.

• The video showcased UP police breaking open the door of an Advocate's home, dragging him out while he was in his Advocate's dress and then mercilessly assaulting him.

• The Bar Council of India in a Press Release dated 26th December, 2020 has condemned the entire incident and has urged the Chief Justice of India, Justice SA Bobde and the Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court, Justice Govind Mathur to take necessary action against the guilty.

• BCI has also written to the Union Home Minister Amit Shah "to take suitable action in the matter and to make immediate suitable laws for providing protection to the lawyers of the country."

Press Release by BCI

• The BCI noted that similar instances have also been witnessed in West Bengal, Bihar and almost all other states.

• It was further noted that the brutality by the police personnel clearly indicated some "ulterior motive" and that the video is a sufficient evidence of their guilt and illegal conduct.

• The BCI has requested to find the guilty personnel and immediately "put them under suspension, transfer them and remove them from service."

• It was also observed that the request made by the Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh has not been considered by the UP government.

• The BCI stated that such atrocities against the Lawyers and the common man cannot be tolerated and if they are continued to be ignored then "the Bar will have no option except to come on roads."

• While showing support to the Bar Council and the Lawyers of UP, the BCI has decided to conduct a meeting in 3-4 days through video conferencing between "representatives of all the State Bar Councils" in order to decide the future course of action in the said matter.

• The meeting will also consider the inaction of Union and State governments to provide any financial assistance to the lawyers in the ongoing pandemic.

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