Rohini Court Lawyers Strike After Advocate Allegedly Assaulted at Police Station
Lawyers at Rohini court announced on Sunday that they will abstain from judicial work on Monday and bar all police personnel from entering the court complex, protesting the alleged assault of an advocate at Mahendra Park police station last week.
The decision by the Rohini court bar association follows an incident on September 29 involving advocate Kamaldeep, who alleged he was manhandled and beaten by police personnel when he went to the Mahendra Park police station with a client to secure the release of an impounded motorcycle. According to his complaint, Head Constable Ashok demanded ₹3,000 to release the vehicle. When the lawyer phoned the station house officer, the head constable allegedly began hurling insults at him.
The FIR states that the head constable later returned with several men and attacked Kamaldeep and his associate, Pankaj. Ashok allegedly grabbed the advocate by the neck and pulled his gold chain, while another officer, identified as Head Constable Vijay Dhull, twisted his hand after learning he was a lawyer. Kamaldeep further alleged that the policemen and their associates dragged them inside the station to beat them, knocking him down when he attempted to escape. He stated that Ashok bit him on the chest while Vijay struck him with a stick, alongside assaults involving sticks and bricks.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northwest) Akanksha Yadav issued an order transferring both Head Constables Ashok and Vijay Dhull to the district lines at Ashok Vihar with immediate effect. An Assistant Commissioner of Police-level departmental inquiry was initiated under the supervision of the DCP. However, police also registered a cross FIR against Kamaldeep based on a complaint filed by the constables under identical sections, which sparked outrage among lawyers.
The bar association said its executive committee had met with the joint commissioner of police, the DCP (Northwest), and the principal district and sessions judge, receiving assurances that strong action would be taken. The association stated that the subsequent lodging of a case against Kamaldeep was concealed from them, calling it an act of police high-handedness and a breach of trust.
The bar association confirmed that the restriction on police entry on Monday will extend to naib courts deployed inside the complex, ensuring no police personnel may enter Rohini court even for hearings.
