Mounting tensions between lawyers and law enforcement in Gujarat have prompted the Bar Council of Gujarat to seek immediate intervention from the state&rsquo;s leadership. The Council's Chairman, JJ Patel, has requested a meeting with Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel to address escalating incidents involving police personnel allegedly obstructing advocates from court access.&nbsp;
He confirmed that the Council is also considering pursuing criminal contempt proceedings against police officers involved in recent confrontations.
The conflict intensified following the arrest of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Chaitar Vasava, who was taken into custody on charges of attempted murder after a violent incident during a meeting in his Dediapada constituency.&nbsp;
According to the FIR filed at Dediapada police station, Vasava allegedly assaulted Dediapada Taluka Panchayat President Sanjay Vasava by striking him with a mobile phone and threatening him with glass shards after breaking a glass object.&nbsp;
The complaint further accuses him of verbally abusing a woman panchayat president and damaging property in the office. Charges under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita were invoked, including attempt to murder, criminal intimidation, insulting a woman's modesty, and intentional damage.
When Chaitar Vasava was brought before the Rajpipla court, the situation further deteriorated as advocates, media representatives, and even sitting MLAs were allegedly blocked from entering the premises. Among those denied access was Gopal Italia, an AAP MLA and practising lawyer.&nbsp;
Italia condemned the police action, questioning, &ldquo;I have come here as a lawyer, not as an MLA. Why are lawyers being prevented from entering the court? Which law prohibits lawyers from entering a courtroom?&rdquo; He further challenged the neutrality of law enforcement, saying, &ldquo;Whose police are you&mdash;BJP&rsquo;s? The court belongs to the public, not the BJP.&rdquo;
Italia was stopped by officers in an unmarked vehicle, triggering protests from AAP workers. Italia continued, &ldquo;Why are we being stopped from entering an open court? Is this how democracy functions?&rdquo; He added, &ldquo;Let the people go inside the court. We are not fleeing. Don&rsquo;t spread false information over the phone. Who needs permission to enter a court? Not even for the High Court. It&rsquo;s as if a terrorist is being taken in, the way the gate has been shut.&rdquo;
In response, police officials stated that restrictions were in place under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, imposed by the district collector due to security concerns during the Muharram period and the sensitive political climate following the MLA&rsquo;s arrest. They also confirmed the deployment of additional State Reserve Police units at government offices and other key locations.
The legal community responded sharply. On July 6, an advocate was allegedly prevented from entering the Rajpipla court and faced inappropriate behaviour from police. The Dahegam Bar Association convened an urgent meeting on Tuesday, passing a resolution condemning the conduct and demanding accountability.&nbsp;
The association emphasised that, as per the Advocates Act, lawyers are officers of the court and cannot be barred from performing their duties. It called for firm legal action against those responsible and measures to prevent recurrence of such incidents.
Additionally, Advocate Puneet Juneja of the Aam Aadmi Party sent a formal letter to Advocate General Kamal Trivedi, urging criminal contempt proceedings against the Superintendent of Police in Narmada district.&nbsp;
Juneja asserted that obstructing legal representatives from entering court premises constituted a violation of fundamental rights and contradicted the provisions of the Advocates Act.
Politically, the developments have sparked sharp reactions. AAP&rsquo;s national convener Arvind Kejriwal claimed that Vasava&rsquo;s arrest was politically motivated.
Referring to the party&rsquo;s recent electoral win in Visavadar, Kejriwal stated, &ldquo;AAP MLA @Chaitar_Vasava has been arrested by BJP in Gujarat. BJP is furious after losing to AAP in the Visavadar by-election. If they think that AAP will be scared by such arrests, then this is their biggest mistake.&rdquo; He added, &ldquo;People of Gujarat are now fed up with BJP's misrule, BJP's hooliganism and dictatorship. Now the people of Gujarat will answer BJP.&rdquo;

Bar Council of Gujarat condemns police for obstructing advocates from court proceedings.

Gujarat Bar Seeks CM Meet Over Lawyer-Police Clash

Bar Council of Gujarat condemns police for obstructing advocates from court proceedings.

July 9, 2025 | 04:44 IST