Calling lawyers who confront policemen “black court goons”, recently transferred ACP Manasvi Vashishta on Monday issued an angry warning, demanding that any gathering of more than five lawyers inside a police station be declared an unlawful assembly and given a “befitting reply”.
Addressing nearly 80 protesting Delhi Police personnel outside Police Headquarters, he demanded at least two companies of dedicated police force in every court, a special cell to pursue the cancellation of advocates’ licences on the same day whenever they confront policemen, and urged his colleagues to remain united.
Vashishta said there should be no hesitation in dealing firmly with groups of lawyers entering police stations. He demanded that every court have a dedicated force of at least two companies to protect police personnel in case of a confrontation inside court premises.
His third demand was a dedicated cell at Police Headquarters to handle complaints against advocates accused of misconduct. He said that whenever a lawyer confronted a police officer, the cell should revoke the advocate’s Bar Council licence the same day, without delay.
Speaking in a visibly angry tone, Vashishta appealed to his colleagues to stand together and not allow individual police officers to be targeted during confrontations with members of the legal fraternity. His remarks took the protest beyond the immediate demand to reinstate two transferred officers, bringing into focus a broader confrontation over police officers’ safety and authority.
Vashishta led the demonstration outside Police Headquarters on Jai Singh Road, following the transfer of the ACP and Shahdara Station House Officer (SHO) Inspector Arun Kumar on October 28. The personnel alleged that the transfers were made under pressure from the legal fraternity following a confrontation at Shahdara police station.
The protesters initially refused to enter the headquarters despite repeated appeals from senior officers. Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Sachin Sharma was seen asking them to maintain the discipline expected of a uniformed force and take up their grievances through official channels.
“We are a disciplined force. Do not behave like protesters,” Sharma told them while urging them to come inside for discussions.
The police personnel eventually met Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar during a Sampark Sabha. They raised concerns about the treatment of police officers during confrontations with lawyers, departmental pressure and what they described as one-sided administrative action against members of the force.
The Commissioner assured them that genuine grievances would be addressed and that prompt and appropriate steps would be taken, according to a Delhi Police statement. He also stressed the importance of maintaining the force’s morale and dignity.
The protest followed an altercation at Shahdara police station on October 23, during which advocate Lalit Bansal allegedly suffered a serious head injury. According to the Coordination Committee of All District Court Bar Associations, lawyers had visited the police station after the incident and sought action against those allegedly involved in the assault. They claimed that the ACP and SHO had assured them the accused would be arrested, but alleged that the accused were subsequently released without arrest.
When lawyers returned to question how the case was handled, the confrontation escalated. Advocates alleged that Vashishta displayed his revolver and threatened them. These allegations have been contested and remain subject to investigation. The incident triggered an indefinite strike by district court lawyers across Delhi. They called off their abstention from judicial work on October 28 after the transfer orders were issued.
The protesting police officers, however, termed the transfers unfair. In a memorandum to the Commissioner, they demanded the reinstatement of Vashishta and Arun Kumar, and opposed the withdrawal or cancellation of cases registered against lawyers involved in the confrontation. They also sought protection from legal or departmental action against personnel who participated in Monday’s demonstration.
Meanwhile, the police administration has initiated a separate mechanism to prevent disputes between the two sides from escalating. At a meeting on October 30, senior police officers and representatives of the Bar Council of Delhi and district bar associations agreed to establish joint coordination committees at district and headquarters levels.
The arrangement will include dedicated nodal officers to address grievances. It was also agreed that, wherever practicable, the concerned bar association would be informed when an FIR was registered against a practising advocate. The Commissioner has additionally directed district and unit heads to hold regular Sampark Sabhas and ensure time-bound resolution of personnel-related grievances, including those concerning promotions, housing and career progression.