Burning effigy to protesting atop buses: Lawyers’ strike against virtual police deposition plan in Delhi enters day 5

Chants of “Kaale kanoon waapas lo”(take back the black law) and “waqil ekta zindabad” (long live the lawyer) echo across the street. While some lawyers are sloganeering from the rooftops of the buses, others are chanting near the buses. Some are chanting in unison while other lawyers are following the last chant like a chain reaction.

A few kilometres away is the Rouse Avenue Court in Central Delhi. Outside gate number 6, a group of black coats led by advocate and secretary of the Bar Association Vijay Bishnoi, are busy burning the effigy of LG VK Saxena.

As per the LG’s notification, Delhi Police officers have been allowed to provide evidence to the court via videoconferencing from police stations, a departure from the current requirement for officers to be physically present in court.

This reform was made under the draft model rules (Nyaya Shruti) on video conferencing under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, which recommends for inclusion of police stations as a “designated place” for deposition through video conference for police personnel/officers.

The lawyers who have called the notification “anti-law” have stated their opposition to the directive, claiming that if officers appear via video conferencing from police stations, contradictions in their statements can be rectified, and it can pave way for manipulation.

Delhi’s lawyers have been taking to the streets and abstaining from work for the last four days seeking the withdrawal of the law. Now, they are gearing up to hold a massive demonstration on Friday outside the LG’s house in Civil Lines.

“All esteemed members are requested to assemble before Central Hall, Tis Hazari courts, New Delhi on 29.08.2025, Friday at 11:30 am from where we shall proceed to the Lieutenant Governor House. Arrangement of Bus shall also be made which will proceed from Gate no. 6, Patiala House Courts to Tis Hazari Courts at 11:00 a.m. for the members who will proceed from Patiala House Courts,” read a circular issued by the Committee on August 27.

“We’ve taken to the streets for the public…this law is against them. We’ll continue our protest till our issue is resolved,” said advocate Tarun Rana, Secretary of the New Delhi Bar Association, protesting outside Delhi’s Patiala House Court.

A lawyer has shared a picture from Tis Hazari Court which is doing rounds on social media mainly in lawyer’s circles. A cardboard poster can be seen taped outside a metal gate. “Nyay ke liye LG House jaaye, vakeel hadtaal pe hain (go to the LG’s house for justice, lawyers are on strike)”, the poster reads.

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