Thousands of lawyers in India’s capital, New Delhi, staged a protest on Monday by boycotting court hearings and staying away from work. This action was in response to a controversial overhaul in criminal legislation introduced on July 1, which has expanded police powers and imposed new judicial requirements.
The new laws grant police greater authority to detain individuals pre-trial and mandate that judges issue written rulings within 45 days of a trial’s conclusion. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government defends these changes as modernizing the justice system, focusing on victims, and expediting justice, particularly with provisions like the death penalty for gang rape of women under 18.
However, lawyers’ associations, opposition parties, and activists argue that these reforms grant excessive power to the police and strain an already overburdened justice system. They call for a pause and review of the new legal provisions.
N.C. Sharma, spokesperson for the All District Courts Bar Associations of Delhi, stated that lawyers from seven district courts participated in the strike, citing potential confusion and complications arising from the new laws.
At New Delhi’s Patiala House district court, operations were notably subdued, with many cases being postponed and adjournments requested by lawyers. Despite the district court disruptions, the Supreme Court of India and the High Court continued to function normally.