SRINAGAR: Scores of lawyers on Saturday staged a protest and blocked the High Court road in the Janipur area of Jammu, alleging that a police team from Srinagar attempted to arrest a practising advocate from within the High Court premises, triggering strong opposition from the legal fraternity.
According to Jammu newspaper Excelsior, a team from Sherghari Police Station, Srinagar, had reached the High Court premises on Friday to execute an arrest warrant issued by the Passenger Tax Court, Srinagar, against Advocate Ranjodh Singh.
The protesting lawyers raised slogans and condemned the alleged attempt to arrest the advocate inside the court complex, claiming it violated the sanctity of the court and established legal norms governing court premises.
Sources said lawyers present at the High Court prevented the police team from carrying out the arrest. Subsequently, a team from Janipur Police Station, led by the Station House Officer (SHO), reached the spot and defused the situation amicably.
The protesting lawyers alleged that senior officials of the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Department were behind the complaint registered against Advocate Ranjodh Singh at Sherghari Police Station and the subsequent court proceedings.
They claimed that the case was aimed at silencing the advocate, who had been questioning the alleged appointment of ineligible candidates under the sports quota. The lawyers demanded an inquiry into the recent appointments made in the Sports Department and extended full support to their colleague.
Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association, Jammu (JKHCBAJ), also condemned the alleged attempt to arrest one of its members from inside the court premises.
In a statement, Association President Nirmal Kotwal described the incident as a serious breach of legal norms and court decorum.
“The Association views the attempted arrest as a serious breach of established legal norms and court decorum. Interference with advocates while they are performing their professional duties inside the court precincts compromises the independence of the legal profession and creates an atmosphere of intimidation that is detrimental to the administration of justice,” he said.
Kotwal also stressed the need for mutual respect between law enforcement agencies and the legal fraternity and urged the authorities to adhere to proper legal procedures while dealing with members of the Bar.
