Delhi High Court declines suo motu action over ACP’s alleged remarks against lawyers

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday declined to initiate suo motu proceedings over allegations that suspended assistant commissioner of police (ACP) Manasvi Vashishtha made derogatory remarks against lawyers and threatened them with firearms during a protest outside the Delhi Police Headquarters.

A bench of acting Chief Justice Nitin Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma asked the lawyers seeking intervention to file a formal petition, assuring them that it would be taken up for consideration and listed before the court.

“File a formal petition; we will look into it. You file it; we will order listing. I assure you we will get listed and look into it. AAP representation dijiye, we are a court of record. What do you mean suo moto? Whatever material is there with you, let it be submitted with the registry. We assure you we will look into it,” the bench told the lawyers.

The court's response came after a group of advocates urged it to take suo motu cognisance, alleging that derogatory language had been used against the legal fraternity and that lawyers had been threatened with weapons, including AK-47 rifles. “You are our chief; if you take suo motu cognisance, we will be assured,” they submitted.

Police protest and suspension of the ACP

The court proceedings came a day after around 500 Delhi Police personnel gathered outside the force's headquarters to protest the transfer of Vashishtha and Shahdara station house officer (SHO) Inspector Arun Kumar. The gathering, which continued for several hours, was described by the police as a ‘Sampark Sabha’, or interaction meeting, rather than a protest.

The personnel sought a meeting with Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar over their concerns following the confrontation with lawyers. They also raised issues relating to the treatment of police officers in courts, alleged pressure during investigations involving advocates and the need for a mechanism to address grievances.

Vashishtha, who had joined the demonstration, was suspended by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday. The action followed the protest against the transfer of the two officers. Reports said the suspension took immediate effect on disciplinary grounds.

The Bar and Bench reported that a video of the ACP showed him making remarks against lawyers, including referring to them as “goons in black coats” and warning of serious repercussions. The remarks prompted further demands for action from members of the legal fraternity.

The Central Delhi Court Bar Association had written to the police commissioner on Monday, seeking registration of a criminal case against Vashishtha over his alleged conduct and remarks during the demonstration. It also demanded an independent, time-bound inquiry into the incident.

Dispute began after alleged assault on advocate

The confrontation between the police and lawyers dates back to October 23, when advocate Lalit Bansal sustained a serious head injury in an alleged assault. An FIR was registered on a complaint filed by advocate Amulya Ratan.

According to the lawyers' account, several advocates went to Shahdara police station that evening to seek action against those named in the assault case. They alleged that Vashishtha and the SHO assured them that the accused, who were present at the police station, would be arrested.

However, the advocates learnt the following day that the accused had not been arrested and had reportedly been released. When they returned to the police station to question the handling of the case, Vashishtha allegedly displayed his revolver and threatened and intimidated them, according to the bar bodies.

The police have put forward a different account, maintaining that the confrontation followed a dispute between two groups over a motorcycle-related incident. A separate case was registered over alleged misbehaviour with police personnel on duty, while the allegation that the ACP pointed his service weapon at the advocates remained under investigation.

Following the incident, district court lawyers launched an indefinite strike, demanding action against the officers. Vashishtha and Inspector Arun Kumar were transferred on October 28, after which the lawyers called off their strike. Vashishtha was moved from the Gandhi Nagar subdivision to the Special Police Unit for Women and Children, while Kumar was transferred to the Security unit.

Rohini lawyers withdraw work boycott

The Rohini Court Bar Association had called on its members to abstain from work on Tuesday over Vashishtha's alleged remarks. However, following the ACP's suspension, the association withdrew the call and asked lawyers to resume regular judicial work.

In a circular issued on Tuesday, the association said its executive committee had decided to withdraw the protest and the call for abstention from work with immediate effect, taking note of the action taken by the police administration.

It also requested members to return to their regular work and said court proceedings would continue as usual. The association thanked its members for their unity and reiterated its commitment to protecting the dignity, self-respect and welfare of the legal fraternity.