Delhi district courts to remain closed tomorrow as lawyers go on one-day strike against Delhi Police over Shahdara assault

All district courts in Delhi will remain closed on Tuesday, October 27, as lawyers abstain from judicial work in a one-day strike against Delhi Police. The strike follows an alleged assault on a lawyer in Shahdara.

The strike has been called by the Co-ordination Committee of All District Courts Bar Associations of Delhi, according to a circular shared by ANI. The committee took the decision at an emergent meeting held over video conference on October 26.

The committee has demanded the immediate suspension of ACP Manasvi Vashishta and the concerned SHO, pending an impartial inquiry.


What led to the strike

The matter began with FIR No. 0248/2026 at Shahdara police station. It relates to an incident in which advocate Lalit Bansal allegedly suffered a serious head injury in an assault. Advocate Amulya Ratan is the complainant. On the evening of October 23, several lawyers went to the police station to seek action against those named. According to the circular, the ACP and the SHO assured them the accused would be arrested. By October 24, the lawyers learnt that the accused had not been arrested and had reportedly been released.

When lawyers approached the police station to raise their concerns, an incident involving the ACP took place. As per the account placed before the committee, the ACP displayed his revolver and threatened and intimidated the lawyers present. The committee described the incident as one of utmost seriousness.

The committee also noted that another FIR, No. 0252/2026, was registered at Shahdara police station on October 26 against members of the Bar. It expressed grave concern over how the matter unfolded.

The circular says the committee also takes serious note of recurring instances of high-handed conduct by police personnel towards members of the legal fraternity in the recent past. It described the strike as a collective institutional response and a show of solidarity with the Bar.

The committee has appealed to all members of the Bar to maintain unity. Copies of the circular have been sent to the Acting Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, the Delhi Police Commissioner and the principal district and sessions judges, among others.