The clash between lawyers and Delhi Police personnel on Saturday last was not the only such incident. There have been several such incidents in which men in uniform were at the receiving end.
The November 2 violence involving the men in 'khaki' and those donning black robes at Tis Hazari Court complex reminded of widespread clashes between police and lawyers in the Allahabad district court premises in March 2015, following the death of a lawyer by a stray police bullet.
Several lawyers and policemen were injured and a number of vehicles were reduced to ashes in the incident. The violence erupted after an under trial, while being produced in court, attempted to escape, forcing a policeman to open fire and the bullet hit a lawyer who later died. As the news spread, the advocates started pelting stones.
Before this, another clash was witnessed between a section of lawyers and police in February 2009, when policemen tried to arrest some advocates who had allegedly attacked the then Janata Party chief Subramanian Swamy, now a BJP MP, with eggs while he was arguing a case inside the court hall of Madras High Court on February 17, 2009.
The Tis Hazari complex was also witness to the unprecedented incident where former IPS officer Kiran Bedi, who was the then Deputy Commissioner of Delhi Police, had in January 1988 ordered lathi charge on advocates protesting against the arrest of a lawyer for alleged theft.
Besides, in January this year, over a dozen persons, including policemen, were injured when a group of lawyers clashed with the police in Uttar Pradesh’s Barabanki.
In year 2000, hundreds of lawyers had gathered at the Parliament Street and were adamant to march towards the Parliament House. Then DCP New Delhi Pranab Nanda was left with no other choice and in the ensuing scuffle police used force. It led massive agitation and a Justice Nanavati Commission was asked to carry out a judicial probe. Nanda was relieved of his charge and since 2000, he has not returned back to Delhi Police.
The incident took place on Lucknow-Faizabad National Highway after a group of advocates blocked traffic near a police station, demanding lodging of an FIR against policemen, who allegedly misbehaved with their colleague.