Lawyers in Delhi have decided to proceed with an indefinite strike starting September 8th, rejecting an appeal from the Bar Council of India. A meeting involving all district bar associations took place at Patiala House Court before the strike. The primary point of contention is the police’s practice of presenting evidence in court remotely from police stations. The lawyers believe this method hinders the justice process, and are demanding that police officers provide testimony in person. Despite the Bar Council of India’s request to call off the strike, the lawyers have stood firm, emphasizing that their movement aims to protect the public’s interest and ensure fair trials. They will halt work indefinitely from September 8th if their demands are not met. The NDBA stated that a letter from the Bar Council of India’s president had been received, which was addressed to the presidents and secretaries of all district court bar associations in Delhi, requesting the withdrawal of the movement. However, the lawyers are resolute, stating that the coordination committee initiated the movement to safeguard the interests of the general public and will continue until their legitimate demands are fulfilled. The core demand is that police officers must be present in court for giving testimony and presenting evidence. This follows a prior strike on August 22nd, which was called off after discussions with a representative of the Union Home Minister. The initial strike was triggered by a notification issued by Delhi’s LG, which allowed police officers to provide testimony through audio and video from police stations. The lawyers consider this order to be detrimental to the public interest. The lawyers met with the Union Home Minister and were reportedly given assurances. However, they are now citing a subsequent circular from the Police Commissioner’s office as not aligning with the assurances, thus leading to the resumption of the strike.
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