Vandalism Of Manipur Lawyer's Home : Supreme Court Bar Association Condemns Attempts To Intimidate Advocates
The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has expressed serious concerns at reports regarding the ransacking of the home and office of Manipur lawyer S Chittaranjan for representing Kuki professor Kham Khan Suan Hausing in a criminal case.Earlier this month, reports emerged that the home of Soraisham Chittaranjan, Hausing's lawyer, had been vandalised by a mob. Following this, he and...
The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has expressed serious concerns at reports regarding the ransacking of the home and office of Manipur lawyer S Chittaranjan for representing Kuki professor Kham Khan Suan Hausing in a criminal case.
Earlier this month, reports emerged that the home of Soraisham Chittaranjan, Hausing's lawyer, had been vandalised by a mob. Following this, he and three other Imphal-based lawyers told the Manipur High Court that they were withdrawing from representing the Hyderabad University professor.
In a resolution passed today, the Supreme Court Bar Association has said that it has ‘taken serious notice’ of the news reports about the vandalism, harshly criticising the attempt to intimidate lawyers and interfere with the administration of justice. The SCBA has also declared that it stands in solidarity with the lawyer whose home was attacked by an angry mob. It has further urged the state government and police to provide adequate protection to the lawyers being threatened and promptly apprehend the people responsible for the attack.
The resolution states –
“The Supreme Court Bar Association underlines that lawyers are free to appear for any litigant. Any attempt by any person to intimidate lawyers into not appearing for any party has the effect of interfering in the administration of justice and needs to be condemned in the strongest possible manner. The Supreme Court Bar Association stands in solidarity with Mr Soraisham Chittaranjan and it urges the State and the Manipur police to provide adequate protection to the lawyers in question and take immediate effective action against the guilty.”
Last month, amidst the ongoing ethnic conflict in the northeastern state, the Supreme Court granted two weeks’ protection against coercive action to the professor and political scientist, who is facing criminal charges over his alleged remarks against the Meitei community, and asked him to approach the Manipur High Court.