As per sources, around 1,000 lawyers from across the country have distanced themselves from the statements made by the Bar Council of India (BCI) in its resolution dated 22 December, on the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act protests. The resolution also mentioned that the damage to public property and violence against the police were serious issues and expressed solidarity with our police and armed forces.
According to the resolution, the Bar Council had appealed to the people of the country to maintain peace and harmony. It had urged the Lawyers, Bar Associations, State Bar Councils, students Associations of NLUS and all Law Colleges to ensure that law and order are maintained throughout the country.
The lawyers responded to the BCI’s resolution that it does not represent their views in this matter and distanced themselves from the Bar Council (BCI)’s statement on anti- Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) protests. They contested that the Council calling for the advocates to convince people not to protest against the Act could take away the people’s right to protest.
A protest march in this regard was conducted by advocates outside Jamia Millia Islamia on 21 December, asserting that the BCI’s resolution did not speak for all advocates.
“It is also extremely distressing to note that in its resolution, the BCI has referred to the lakhs of citizens of this country who are exercising their democratic right to protest, out of sheer anguish, as the ‘illiterate ignorant mass’. It did not befit the stature of the BCI for such statements to be made,” the response to the BCI noted.
Bar Council of India appealed to the people of the country to maintain peace and harmony. It urged the Lawyers, Bar Associations, State Bar Councils, and others to ensure the maintenance of law and order throughout the country. pic.twitter.com/8PkuWJI19J
— B&B Associates LLP (@BandBAssociates) December 27, 2019
