Shweta Tambade
The Allahabad High Court asked for a complete report of the incident where a practicing Advocate at Etah, Rajendra Sharma was ill-treated and shoved by the police, and it is also observed that relatives too were harassed and humiliated.
The Allahabad High Court took suo-motu cognizance of this incident and the matter was listed for hearing today.
Remarkably, the Bar Council of India has already issued a statement criticizing the assault by police and had asked the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court and the Chief Justice of India to take suo moto cognizance of the same.
The Press Release also stated,
“The act of police of Uttar Pradesh is shocking, this cannot be expected from the protectors of Law and Order. The brutality clearly shows that the police personnel of Etah were acting with some planning with some ulterior motive.”
While requesting the CJI & CJ of Allahabad High Court to take action, the BCI had also added that its request was not considered by Uttar Pradesh Government.
The bench of Chief Justice Govind Mathur and Justice Saumitra Dayal Singh has instructed the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Etah to investigate the matter and submit a complete report on or before the next date of listing.
According to the Court’s Order, the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Etah has been instructed to make required inquiry by availing “all relevant facts including audio-visual electronic documents and submit to this court on or before the next date of listing.”
Later, the District Magistrate, as well as Senior Superintendent of Police, Etah have also been instructed to co-operate and supply all relevant facts and documents as required by the Chief District Magistrate, Etah to provide the report of the incident to this court.
The order of the Allahabad High Court has notably recognized the letter sent by the Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh, which was communicated to the Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court with a request to take suitable action regarding this case.
The Court’s Order also said that a letter was received by the Secretariat of the Chief Justice from the High Court Bar Association relating to the same issue and that certain other Advocates also agitated the cause through email.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on Friday, 8th January 2020.