"Lawyer's Job Is In Court, Not On Street": Lawyers' Group Intervenes To Tell Supreme Court In Plea Against Detention Of Advocates

During the hearing before the Supreme Court alleging violation of Court's order on police action against protestors in Delhi, Senior Advocate Kirti Uppal opposed lawyers taking to the streets to protest, while appearing in an impleadment application seeking to safeguard the institution and preserve the decorum of the legal profession.

Senior Advocate Shadan Farasat was seen being dragged out of protests by the Delhi Police on Saturday. The video had invoked mixed reactions on social media.

Uppal argued that emotions were running high on both sides and that public demonstrations by legal professionals were harming the profession itself.

The Court, in a special hearing held on Sunday, issued notice in a contempt plea against senior Union and Delhi officials for non-compliance with its orders regarding the restriction of metro services, internet suspensions, and widespread detentions during recent protests.

The Bench comprising Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana was hearing contempt petitions after it had previously directed the concerned authorities to reconsider the complete prohibition on Metro services and train movements in New Delhi ahead of the October 10 protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Senior Advocate Kirti Uppal, appearing for a lawyers' group, submitted, "Filed an IA to be a party because the emotions are on both sides. We, as lawyers, because this is a lawyers' forum, and the way things are happening, it is affecting our profession...The way things are being presented, I just want to show one thing: I was very active against all these kinds of things... A very beautiful line which was spoken by a senior lawyer, God bless his soul. He said, a lawyer's job is in the court, not in the street. If you go onto the street...That's what you're going to do now. That's not fair."

His remarks drew reactions from lawyers inside the courtroom, with several lawyers shouting "Shame!", Senior Advocates appearing for the Petitioners intervened to restore order during the hearing.

The Senior Advocates appearing for the Petitioners, including Senior Advocates Kapil Sibal and Gopal Sankarnarayan, immediately distanced themselves from the commotion inside the Court, after Judges disapproved of such conduct by lawyers.

The President of the SCAORA, Senior Advocate Devrat, asked all the lawyers present in the court to remain calm and maintain the decorum of the Court.

Justice Bagchi said, reacting to the commotion, "Very unpalatable things have happened. What what Mr. Gopal said may not have been very palatable to the court. But still then we've permitted Mr. Gopal to speak. They must have the same space."

Justice Mohana added, "There is the representative system, all of you are being represented and we are here to instil faith in all of you."

Uppal submitted, "And this is what precisely I wanted to say. When you make a tweet to the world at large and insinuate the Supreme Court, saying that what the Supreme Court is doing in all these matters is actually deplorable. And I'll show that if my turn comes. Prayer is, I must be made a party here, because I have to show a lot of things to safeguard the institution, it is also our job."

Raising serious concerns over citizens' fundamental rights to peaceful assembly and movement, the Apex Court ordered the immediate removal of Section 163 BNSS notice boards around the Supreme Court premises to ensure unhindered access to justice, while directing the authorities to submit a detailed affidavit explaining the closure of 45 metro stations and public transit curbs.

The Court also ordered, "There shall not be detention, save and except by procedure established by law, particularly with regard to assemblage of people beyond the area within which it's imposed. Assembly shall be permitted in accordance with law, particularly in respect of peaceful assemblage of people beyond the area where Section 163 BNSS is in operation, in accordance with law."

The Court noted that, with regard to the allegations made in the contempt petition, Solicitor General Mehta denied and disputed such allegations and contended that the Delhi Metro was functioning normally. However, some entry points had been closed. Entry and exit at 45 out of 303 Metro stations had been restricted.

The Court, while issuing notice, directed the authorities concerned to submit a short affidavit showing cause why contempt proceedings shall not be initiated against them. It has been reported that the plea filed by advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi sought contempt proceedings against senior officials, including Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar, and DMRC Chairperson D. Thara, for willful non-compliance with the apex court's orders.

It has also been informed by the Legal Head of CJP Ratna Singh that Abhijit Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka have been released by the Special Executive Magistrate Court after being detained in the flight by Delhi Police yesterday, i.e. October 10.

The protests were held on October 10 after it was reported by The Indian Express that Election Commissioners Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr Vivek Joshi registered written dissents on record on at least 14 separate occasions over a 10-month period. The objections pertained to administrative decisions and official orders issued without the knowledge, consent, or participation of the full Commission, four of which occurred on a single day.

Cause Title: Shailendra Mani Tripathi v. Union of India & Ors.[W.P.(Crl.) No. 280/2026] and MA Baby v. Union of India & Ors. [63560/2026]