Lawyers’ detention explained: What happened and who intervened

Lawyers marching from the Supreme Court to Jantar Mantar were detained on October 10.

The Bar Association asked the Chief Justice of India to intervene.

The Solicitor General also took up the matter, according to Bar and Bench.

The lawyers were released.

The reports differ on how many were held.

The reports differ on the role of the Chief Justice, with one saying the Chief Justice took up the matter and another saying only that intervention was sought.

Messages circulating among lawyers claimed that about 100 advocates were detained from outside the Supreme Court and taken to Yamuna Sports Complex, according to Bar and Bench.

Bar and Bench did not confirm that figure, and it reported that several lawyers were detained.

Bombay Samachar put the number at about 50 to 60 lawyers, including senior advocates and women, who were released several hours after being detained.

The lawyers had been marching from the Supreme Court to Jantar Mantar, according to ThePrint’s live blog.

The Supreme Court Bar Association passed a resolution condemning the reported use of excessive force against, and the detention of, senior and young advocates, particularly women advocates.

The resolution asked the Chief Justice of India to step in, according to The Tribune.

The Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association also passed a resolution seeking urgent action, according to Bar and Bench.

The Bar Association asked for an examination of the detentions and of the reported use of force.

The reports available on October 10 did not include a statement from Delhi Police on the detention of the lawyers.

The reports did not say whether any inquiry into the alleged use of force has begun.

Delhi Police detained hundreds of people on October 10 as the CJP’s protest at Jantar Mantar was blocked, according to police figures of about 150 in the morning and about 500 arriving in groups.

Supreme Court of India (file image), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0