A bench comprising Justices B R Gavai and K Vinod Chandran heard the matter on Monday, during which the state's counsel confirmed the fund allocation. The court had earlier raised concerns over the lack of functional surveillance cameras, which were found defunct due to insufficient maintenance funds, as per a report from the Gautam Budh Nagar district judge.
In response, the Supreme Court issued a fresh notice to the president and secretary of the Janpad Dewani and Faujdari Bar Association, Gautam Budh Nagar. The order followed a submission by the lawyer representing the office bearers, who stated that she had instructions to withdraw the vakalatnama (legal representation document).
The apex court directed that if the president and secretary of the bar association failed to appear before it on February 17, it would proceed with the matter and pass an appropriate order.
CCTV Footage to be Preserved Amid Ongoing Investigation
The issue stems from an incident on March 20, 2024, where senior advocate Gaurav Bhatia was allegedly manhandled at the Gautam Budh Nagar district court. The Supreme Court took a serious view of the attack on March 21, 2024, expressing concern that those responsible had not yet been identified. It has directed the district judge to preserve the CCTV footage of the incident for further investigation.Additionally, during a lawyers' strike, another incident was reported where a woman lawyer alleged she was manhandled in a different courtroom while appearing in a case.
Supreme Court Condemns Lawyers' Strike
The Supreme Court criticized the lawyers’ strike, highlighting that such actions adversely affect litigants, who are crucial stakeholders in the justice system. The bench reiterated the necessity of functional security infrastructurein court premises to ensure the safety of legal professionals and litigants.The case will be further heard on February 17, with the top court expected to take decisive action if the bar association representatives fail to appear.
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