Lawyers protest in Lucknow for Advocates Protection Act implementation
Protesters breached police barricades and marched towards the Uttar Pradesh Assembly to demand legal protections and improved facilities.
Hundreds of lawyers in Lucknow marched towards the Uttar Pradesh Assembly on Saturday to demand the implementation of the Uttar Pradesh Advocates Protection Act, according to the Hindustan Times. The protesters gathered at the Kaisarbagh court premises around 10 am before moving through Parivartan Chowk, Atal Chowk, and Hazratganj.
The demonstrators breached police barricades and pulled down metal fencing and bamboo barriers to reach the Assembly gate. Some lawyers were seen climbing over barricades, and the march led to heated exchanges and scuffles with security personnel. Police monitored the situation using drones as lawyers staged a sit-in at the Assembly gate.
The protest was organised by the Central Bar Association and the Lucknow Bar Association following a joint meeting on November 13. The lawyers' eight-point charter of demands includes the immediate implementation of the Advocates Protection Act and the completion of an 80,000 square foot old tehsil complex for courtrooms and parking.
Other demands include increasing the Advocate Welfare Fund from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 25 lakh and installing CCTV cameras in all district courtrooms across Uttar Pradesh within a month. Lawyers also sought better seating arrangements and parking facilities at the transport department workshop.
Central Bar Association general secretary Avneesh Dixit said a state-level lawyers’ mahapanchayat would be organised if the government fails to act. The protest was called off after a memorandum was submitted to joint commissioner of police (law and order) Babloo Kumar, who stated the situation remained under control.
The lawyers warned they would gherao the chief minister’s residence if their demands are not addressed within 15 days. Protesting lawyer Karan Sharma claimed that police misbehaved with the advocates during the demonstration.