TIS HAZARI CLASH : HC orders judicial inquiry

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Sunday ordered a judicial inquiry by one of its retired judges into the clash between lawyers and police at Tis Hazari court complex here and transfer of two senior police officials during the pendency of the investigation.

A bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice C Hari Shankar, which sat on a holiday after taking suo motu (on its own) cognisance of media reports of the Saturday afternoon incident in which 29 persons were injured including three advocates who suffered gunshot wounds, said that former high court judge Justice (Retd) S P Garg would hold the judicial inquiry into the matter.

During the hearing in a jam-packed courtroom, the bench, after hearing various lawyers' associations, directed that no coercive action would be taken against any lawyer on the basis of FIRs lodged at the behest of police officials.

The bench said Justice Garg will be assisted by directors of CBI, Vigilance and Intelligence Bureau or any other senior officers appointed by them and the inquiry shall be completed within six weeks and a report be submitted in the court.

The bench directed the Delhi Police commissioner to transfer Special Commissioner Sanjay Singh, who had allegedly ordered lathi charge on lawyers inside the court complex, and Additional DCP Harinder Singh, who allegedly had ordered firing at the lawyers, during pendency of the investigation.