SCBA, SG: Delhi CJP Protest Lawyers Released After Intervention

• Several lawyers protesting with the Cockroach Janta Party were detained by the Delhi Police outside the Supreme Court.
• Reports indicated approximately 100 advocates were taken into custody and transported to the Yamuna Sports Complex.
• The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA) passed resolutions seeking urgent intervention from CJI Surya Kant.
• Solicitor General Tushar Mehta also intervened in the matter.
• All detained lawyers were subsequently released following these interventions.

This incident underscores the critical role that bar associations and high-ranking legal officials play in safeguarding the rights and liberty of legal professionals.

A number of legal practitioners were taken into custody by the Delhi Police earlier today while participating in demonstrations organized by the group known as Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). These detentions occurred in the vicinity of the Supreme Court, where the lawyers had gathered to protest. Following their apprehension, the detained individuals were transported to the Yamuna Sports Complex.

Reports circulating within the legal community suggested that the number of advocates detained could be as high as approximately 100. The incident prompted immediate concern and action from various legal associations, highlighting the swift response required when members of the bar face such circumstances. The specific nature of the CJP protest was the catalyst for the gathering that led to these detentions.

The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) acted promptly in response to the detentions. Early in the day, the SCBA convened and passed a resolution specifically calling for the urgent intervention of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant to address the situation. This formal request underscored the gravity with which the bar association viewed the detention of its members.

Concurrently, the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA) also issued a similar resolution, echoing the SCBA's call for immediate action from CJI Kant. The combined efforts of these prominent legal bodies, alongside direct intervention from Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, proved instrumental. It has since been confirmed that all the lawyers who were detained have been released, a direct result of these high-level interventions.

This incident underscores the critical role that bar associations and high-ranking legal officials play in safeguarding the rights and liberty of legal professionals. The swift and coordinated response from the Supreme Court Bar Association, the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association, and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta demonstrates a robust mechanism for addressing the detention of lawyers, even when they are engaged in public protest.

The immediate mobilization to seek intervention from the Chief Justice of India and the subsequent successful release of the detained lawyers highlight the legal community's commitment to protecting its members. This event serves as a significant reminder of the established channels available for intervention and release, reinforcing the principle that legal professionals, like all citizens, are entitled to due process and protection, particularly when exercising their rights to assembly and expression.

This development underscores the critical role of bar associations and high-ranking legal officials in safeguarding the rights and liberty of legal professionals, even when they are engaged in public protest. Lawyers should be aware of the potential for detention during demonstrations and the established channels for intervention and release by bodies like the SCBA and the Solicitor General.

Source: Original reporting via legal news outlets