Thousands of lawyers in Delhi, India, staged a protest against three newly introduced criminal laws they consider draconian and detrimental to the interests of litigants. The demonstrators took to the streets on Monday, responding primarily to the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2023, also known as the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill, 2023. This bill introduces two controversial provisions: Section 86, which defines “cruelty against a woman,” and Section 73, which makes it punishable to publish court proceedings without permission.
The protest was orchestrated by the Coordination Committee of All District Court Bar Associations of Delhi. Chairman Jagdeep Vats and Secretary General Atul Kumar Sharma expressed concerns over provisions related to remand and the recording of evidence in police stations, which they argue violate principles of justice. The committee’s circular also criticized judicial interference in the renovation of lawyers’ chambers, considering it an invasion of privacy rights.
The strike, supported by lawyers from seven district courts across Delhi, followed a meeting held by the coordination committee at Tis Hazari Court. During this meeting, it was resolved to abstain from judicial work for the day as a form of protest. The committee’s spokesperson, N.C. Sharma, reiterated the broad participation and the unity among the legal community in opposing the new laws.
These new laws have not only faced local opposition but have also garnered attention from regional political figures. Karnataka State Minister H.K. Patil has pointed out numerous loopholes in the legislations, highlighting broader national discontent. Patil’s previous announcement on introducing 23-25 amendments to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita before its implementation in Karnataka underscores the contentious nature of these laws.
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