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Journalism of Courage
After six days of abstaining from work and taking to the streets against a notification issued on August 13 by Delhi L-G V K Saxena – allowing police personnel to record evidence from police stations via video conferencing – Delhi’s trial court lawyers on Thursday called off their strike.
The decision comes after the office of the Commissioner of Police issued a statement saying that “the Union Home Minister would meet the representatives of the Bar to discuss the issue with an open mind”. “In the meantime, the operation of the said notification on the ground would only be carried out after hearing all stakeholders,” it added.
On August 13, the L-G had issued a notification designating all police stations in National Capital Territory of Delhi as places where police personnel could present evidence and depose before courts through video conferencing. This marks a departure from the current requirement for officers to be physically present in court to examine witnesses.
The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) empowers the use of video conferencing in all judicial proceedings, including evidence recording and witness cross-examination, as detailed in the newly-introduced Nyaya Shruti Rules, 2025.
Lawyers had alleged that if officers appear via video conferencing from police stations, contradictions in their statements can be rectified, and it can pave the way for manipulation.
Last Thursday, the Coordination Committee of all district court bar associations had issued a circular deciding to unanimously abstain from work.
After calling off the strike, the coordination committee said in a statement that the decision came after a meeting was held with the representative of the Home Minister on Thursday.
“From day one, we had said we want written statements and not mere verbal assurance. After this written communication, which states that the HM will speak to the Bar with an open mind, we have also decided to sit with an open mind and suspend the strike till the final outcome of the discussions,” said advocate Tarun Rana, secretary of the New Delhi Bar Association.
“We are hopeful that the meeting will lead to a positive outcome. We’re glad that the government responded aptly to our concerns,” advocate Rajiv Tehlan, president of the Rohini Court Bar Association, added.
