Will inquire into Patiala House court violence: Bar Council of India tells SC

NEW DELHI: The Bar Council of India, the country's apex body regulating lawyers, on Monday told the Supreme Court that it had decided to go ahead with its inquiry into the alleged excesses committed by some lawyers in the violent incidents which rocked the Patiala House court complex recently.

A section of lawyers thrashed journalists and lawyers appearing for JNU students' union leader on Feb 15, and days later thrashed Kanhaiya inside the court premises despite police security and court appeal to lawyers to exercise restraint.

In an affidavit submitted to the top court the BCI condemned the attack on journalists and tended an apology to the media. The Council said that it would inquire into the attack on the fourth estate separately.

Regarding the attack on the JNU students' union chief and the teachers and students, the BCI said that though anti-India slogans needed to be condemned any protest has to be legal and cannot be done by "indecent" ways like the alleged incidents.

The BCI said it would constitute a committee to look into the violent incidents. The Council dubbed the conduct of lawyers as "unfortunate".