New Delhi, Sept 8 (HS): Lawyers in Delhi have once again gone on strike from Monday, protesting against the notification allowing police personnel to record testimonies via video conferencing from police stations. Although Delhi Police recently revised its earlier circular to clarify that no police officer would depose through video conferencing directly from stations, lawyers are demanding a complete withdrawal of the order.

Earlier, Delhi’s lawyers had observed nearly a week-long judicial boycott opposing the Lieutenant Governor’s notification permitting such remote testimonies. Their protests extended beyond court premises to the streets, where effigies of the Lieutenant Governor were burnt. At that time, Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairman and BJP Rajya Sabha MP Manan Kumar Mishra had appealed to lawyers to end their strike.

On September 6, however, the Coordination Committee of All District Court Bar Associations unanimously rejected Mishra’s request and announced the resumption of the judicial boycott from September 8. Mishra had invited the Committee to a joint meeting with BCI and the Bar Council of Delhi, making the case that frequent strikes harmed the lawyers’ credibility. In a three-page letter, he cautioned that the Bar must avoid becoming a subject of public ridicule over minor disputes.

The controversy dates back to August 28, when Delhi Police notified that the matter would be discussed with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and that until then, no testimony would be recorded from police stations via video link. Shah later met advocates’ representatives on September 2 and, according to lawyers’ leaders, assured them that police officers would continue to appear in courtrooms in person.

However, on September 4, Special Commissioner of Police (Crime) Devesh Chandra Srivastava circulated a letter to all lower courts and the High Court Registrar, stating that only formal police witnesses could testify through video conferencing, while substantive witnesses would still appear physically, subject to the consent of all parties.

Delhi Police has argued that this system would speed up trials and help efficiently record statements. The letter also noted that under Section 530 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), provisions exist for electronic recording of testimonies to ensure smooth judicial functioning.

Nevertheless, the Coordination Committee denounced the police’s modified circular as a breach of assurances given by the Home Minister, and therefore called for a renewed judicial boycott starting September 8.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar