Supreme Court Ghaziabad Lawyers Attack: Notice Issued to UP Police

• The Supreme Court has requested a response from the Uttar Pradesh Police regarding their alleged failure to register an attempted murder case.
• This follows a violent attack on several lawyers, including a woman, at the 'Apex The Florus' society in Ghaziabad on October 22.
• The incident, stemming from a dispute over illegal construction, resulted in severe injuries and alleged outraging of modesty.
• Petitioners, including SCBA members A Deepa and A Deb Kumar, argue a "systemic failure" by law enforcement to address violence against legal professionals.
• A Supreme Court bench, including CJI Surya Kant, issued notice on the plea filed by the Ghaziabad lawyers.

This development signals the Supreme Court's scrutiny of alleged police inaction in cases involving attacks on legal professionals, potentially setting a precedent for lawyers seeking higher court intervention when local law enforcement fails to register appropriate charges, such as attempted murder, against assailants.

On the night of October 22, a violent confrontation erupted at the 'Apex The Florus' residential society in Vasundhara, Ghaziabad, involving several legal professionals, including a woman lawyer. The incident stemmed from a dispute concerning alleged illegal construction and the obstruction of a passage within the complex. According to reports, two residents reportedly brought a group of unidentified men into the premises, who then launched a physical assault on the advocates and other residents who attempted to intervene.

The attack resulted in significant injuries to multiple individuals, including fractures and eye damage. Disturbingly, the petition filed later also alleged the outraging of a woman lawyer’s modesty during the altercation. Despite the severity of the violence, evidenced by Medico-Legal Cases (MLCs) and CCTV footage, the Uttar Pradesh Police are accused of failing to register a case of attempted murder, a central point of contention for the victims. This alleged inaction by local law enforcement has prompted the affected lawyers to seek higher judicial intervention.

The Supreme Court has now taken cognizance of the alleged police inaction following the Ghaziabad lawyers attack, issuing a notice to the Uttar Pradesh Police. On Tuesday, a bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V Mohana, sought responses regarding the failure to register an attempted murder charge after the assault on the lawyers at 'Apex The Florus'. The petition before the apex court was filed by several legal practitioners, including Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) members A Deepa and A Deb Kumar, alongside Delhi High Court advocates Vipin Sharma and Anup Goyal.

All the petitioners reside in the same Ghaziabad society where the incident occurred. Their plea specifically highlights what they describe as a "systemic failure" within law enforcement agencies, contending that such bodies often downplay targeted violence directed at officers of the court. The lawyers are pushing for the appropriate charges, particularly an attempted murder charge Ghaziabad, to be filed against the assailants, arguing that the available evidence supports such a serious accusation.

This development signals the Supreme Court's scrutiny of alleged police inaction in cases involving attacks on legal professionals, potentially setting a precedent for lawyers seeking higher court intervention when local law enforcement fails to register appropriate charges, such as attempted murder, against assailants. The Supreme Court's decision to issue notice underscores the gravity with which the judiciary views allegations of violence against its members and the perceived inadequacy of local police response. This case could significantly influence how future incidents involving attacks on legal practitioners are handled by police forces across the country.

The petitioners' assertion of a "systemic failure" in addressing violence against legal professionals resonates broadly within the legal community. Lawyers should monitor this case for implications on police accountability and the protection of legal practitioners, as a strong judicial stance could compel law enforcement to more rigorously investigate and prosecute such attacks. The outcome here will be crucial in reinforcing the safety and dignity of legal professionals who, as officers of the court, play a vital role in the justice system.

This development signals the Supreme Court's scrutiny of alleged police inaction in cases involving attacks on legal professionals, potentially setting a precedent for lawyers seeking higher court intervention when local law enforcement fails to register appropriate charges, such as attempted murder, against assailants. Lawyers should monitor this case for implications on police accountability and the protection of legal practitioners.

Source: Original reporting via news reports