Lawyers across Delhi’s district courts called off their indefinite abstention from judicial work on Wednesday after the Delhi Police transferred Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Manasvi Vashishta and Shahdara station house officer (SHO) Inspector Arun Kumar following a dispute over alleged intimidation of advocates at the police station.
The Coordination Committee of All District Courts Bar Associations of Delhi announced the decision in a circular, saying the transfers and progress made during discussions with police representatives had paved the way for ending the protest with immediate effect. The committee also secured assurance that it would investigate complaints against the police personnel within two months.
Lawyers launched an indefinite strike on Tuesday, demanding action against the two officers and other personnel at Shahdara police station over alleged high-handedness towards advocates. They had also sought an impartial inquiry into the incident and related police action against members of the legal fraternity.
According to the committee’s circular, representatives of the Delhi Police, the Bar Council of Delhi and office-bearers of various district court bar associations reached a mutual understanding during a meeting on Wednesday.
Beyond the transfer of the ACP and SHO, the understanding provides for an inquiry into complaints filed by Shahdara Bar Association members against police personnel, to be completed within two months.
The committee also said it would take immediate steps to apprehend the accused named in FIR No. 248/2026, registered at Shahdara police station. If they were not arrested promptly, the committee would initiate appropriate legal measures for non-bailable warrants and issue a Look-Out Circular, in accordance with law.
Another condition requires completing the investigation into the FIR registered against advocates within one week. Advocate Tarun Rana, secretary of the Coordination Committee, said the strike had been withdrawn because the lawyers’ demands had been met. The proposed protest march from Patiala House court complex to Delhi Police Headquarters was also called off.
The dispute arose following an incident on October 23 in which advocate Lalit Bansal allegedly sustained a serious head injury during an assault. Advocate Amulya Ratan filed a complaint about the incident, leading to the registration of an FIR at Shahdara police station.
According to the lawyers, several advocates later visited the police station to seek action against the accused in the assault. They alleged that police officers assured them they would arrest the accused, but the lawyers later learned the individuals had not been detained.
The confrontation escalated when advocates returned to the police station on October 24 to question how the case was being handled. The lawyers alleged that the ACP displayed his revolver and threatened those present.
The police have also levelled allegations against advocates over the confrontation. An FIR was registered against members of the legal fraternity following allegations that lawyers had abused and intimidated police personnel on duty. The competing allegations are subject to investigation.
The committee had initially called for a one-day abstention from judicial work on October 27 before extending it indefinitely after its demands remained unresolved. The protest threatened to disrupt proceedings across the Capital’s district courts.
With the transfers and the agreed timelines for the two inquiries, the committee has directed advocates to resume judicial work.
It thanked members of the legal fraternity for their support during the protest and said the collective response had reinforced its commitment to protecting advocates’ professional dignity, security and rights.
The resolution of the immediate standoff now leaves the police with the task of completing the two investigations within the agreed timelines and taking appropriate action in the assault case.