The Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) has asked its members to wear black ribbons while appearing in court on Monday to protest what it called excessive and disproportionate police force against lawyers during a demonstration in Delhi.
The Association conveyed the decision through a notice issued on Sunday, describing the gesture as a mark of solidarity with lawyers who were allegedly manhandled during Saturday’s protest. The demonstration had sought the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The DHCBA had earlier condemned the detention of several lawyers and the alleged use of excessive force against people who attempted to participate in the protest. In a statement issued on Saturday, it said that video footage showed lawyers, including senior advocates, being physically dragged by police.
“The DHCBA expresses its strongest disapproval of the excessive and disproportionate use of force against the protesting lawyers, including women advocates,” the Association said. It described the treatment as “wholly reprehensible” and said it constituted a serious affront to the dignity and constitutional rights of members of the legal fraternity.
The Association’s Sunday notice said the black ribbons would be worn in continuation of its October 10 resolution condemning the alleged police excesses. It asked members to wear the ribbons while appearing in court to register their protest against the treatment of lawyers during the demonstration.
Senior advocate Shadan Farasat was among those detained on Saturday, according to the report. Farasat, who was allegedly roughed up and dragged by Delhi Police, had his shirt torn during the incident. He has represented petitioners before the Supreme Court in challenges to the SIR process.
Senior advocate Dinesh Dwivedi was also among the detainees. His elder brother, Rakesh Dwivedi, has represented the Election Commission of India in the SIR matter.
The dispute places the conduct of police action during public demonstrations under scrutiny, particularly when members of the legal profession are involved. The DHCBA’s protest is also linked to an ongoing political and legal dispute over the revision of electoral rolls, but the Association’s immediate objection concerns the alleged treatment of lawyers during Saturday’s demonstration.
The material supplied for the report contains the Association’s statements and details of the reported detentions, but no response from Delhi Police. The DHCBA has asked its members to observe the black-ribbon protest while attending court on Monday.
