A day after clash between Delhi Police personnel and lawyers inside Tis Hazari court complex in North Delhi, the Delhi High Court on Sunday ordered a judicial enquiry by one of its retired judges into the incident.

On the basis of the findings in a preliminary enquiry conducted by a police team headed by Special Commissioner of Police (Intelligence) Praveer Ranjan, Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Kanta Prasad has been suspended for allegedly dragging an advocate inside the court lockup and beating him up. Also, departmental action has been taken against ASI Pawan Kumar who allegedly fired at the lawyers

The HC also directed Delhi Police commissioner Amulya Patnaik to transfer Special Commissioner of Police Sanjay Singh and Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Harinder Singh during pendency of the investigation. The court also made it clear that no coercive action would be taken against any lawyer.

On Sunday, a Bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice C Hari Shankar took ‘suo motu’ cognisance of the media reports of the incident and said the former High Court judge justice (retired) S P Garg would hold a judicial enquiry into the matter.

The court also directed the Delhi Government and the Centre to provide best treatment to injured lawyers, including those who received gunshot injuries, preferably in AIIMS.

The Delhi Government was also directed by court to provide lump sum ex-gratia of Rs 50,000, 25,000 and 10,000 respectively to advocates Vijay Verma, Ranjit Malik and Pankaj Dubey who received gunshot injuries,  .

During the hearing, Delhi Police told the bench that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Crime Branch has been formed to look into the clash and probe the matter. Police said that four First Information Reports (FIRs) have been lodged in connection with the incident under relevant sections, including charges of attempt to murder.

“The cases were registered on separate complaints of the district judge of Tis Hazari court, two advocates, and a Delhi Police constable who was injured in the incident. On the complaint of the district judge, a case has been registered on the charges of obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions, assault and rioting,” said police.

“Two cases have been registered against police personnel on the complaint of two advocates, including a woman, on the charge of attempt to murder, voluntarily causing hurt, wrongful confinement, criminal intimidation, theft and use of criminal force on woman with intent to outrage her modesty. Another case was filed on the complaint of a police constable, who was injured in the incident, on the charge of obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions, assault, attempt to murder, rioting and robbery,” said police.

Advocate Rahul Mehra, representing the Delhi Police, told the bench that one assistant sub inspector has been suspended and another transferred for alleged involvement in the clash. He said that 21 police officials and eight advocates were injured in the clash.

Lawyers, however, said more of their colleagues were injured than the number claimed by the police. They also claimed that two advocates were injured in police firing, but police said they fired in the air.

Registrar General (RG) Dinesh Kumar Sharma said a closed-door meeting was held on Sunday morning by the chief justice and senior most judges of the high court.

“The meeting was also attended by senior police officers and additional chief secretary of the Delhi Government. After the meeting, the court decided to hold a hearing at 1 pm. During the 1 pm hearing, the high court issued notices and sought responses of the Centre, the Delhi Police commissioner and the chief secretary on the clash between lawyers and police. It also asked the police officers, who were allegedly involved in the clashes, to be present in the court at 3 pm,” said Sharma.

Tension prevailed in National Capital’s Tis Hazari court complex on Saturday afternoon after a scuffle broke out between lawyers and Delhi Police personnel over parking in the complex. Around 21 vehicles including Police Control Room (PCR) vans, prison vans and 12 private bikes were set on fire and vandalized by lawyers.

The lawyers also alleged that the police had opened fired on them in which two advocates have sustained bullet injuries. Several police personnel including Additional DCP, North district also sustained injuries in the incident. The agitated lawyers also burned the prison locker room and generator room in the court complex.

According to police, around eight to ten police personnel sustained injuries in the incident. “Jarnail Singh, Station House Officer (SHO), civil lines police station sustained serious injuries and is said to be critical. Rajeev Bharadwaj, SHO of Kotwali police station, sustained head injury and is undergoing treatment. Harinder Singh, Additional DCP, North and the operator of DCP, North are also among the injured police officials,” said the senior police official.