Lawyers protest at Tis Hazari against police action on Jantar Mantar protesters
More than 60 lawyers from various Delhi district courts on Saturday staged a protest at the Tis Hazari court complex against the police action during the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) march from Jantar Mantar towards Parliament on July 20.
The demonstration, organised by the group ‘Youth for Justice’, saw advocates allege that police used excessive force against peaceful protesters. The lawyers sang the national anthem and recited the Preamble to the Constitution, reaffirming their commitment to justice, liberty, equality and fraternity.
Addressing the gathering, advocate Ashu Bidhuri, founder of Youth for Justice, said students were exercising their constitutional right to peaceful protest and that the police should have engaged in dialogue instead of using force.
The lawyers demanded a judicial inquiry overseen by a retired Supreme Court judge into the July 20 incident and sought action against police personnel accused of assaulting student protesters.
The CJP march had been organised to demand the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET paper leak. Clashes broke out between protesters and security personnel after demonstrators attempted to march towards Parliament.
Police used lathis and tear gas to disperse the crowds, following which FIRs were registered at Connaught Place, Parliament Street and other police stations.
The protesting lawyers expressed solidarity with the students and called for accountability over the alleged use of excessive force.
