Shahjahanpur Advocate Killing- BCI Directs UP Bar Council To Refrain From Abstaining From Judicial Work On Oct 20

The Bar Council Of India (BCI) addressed a letter to the Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday directing the Uttar Pradesh Bar Council to withdraw its call for abstinence from judicial work by lawyers across the State on October 20 as a mark of protest against the killing of an advocate inside the Shahjahanpur District Complex.

"The Uttar Pradesh Bar Council is forthwith directed to to withdraw the call for abstinence from Judicial work by Lawyers across the State on 20.10.2021", the letter read. 

In a letter issued by the Uttar Pradesh Bar Council on October 18, all the bar associations of the State had been requested to abstain from judicial work on October 20 as a mark of protest against the killing of Late Advocate Bhupendra Pratap Singh inside the premises of the Shahjahanpur civil court on Monday. 

"The Bar Council of India, strongly condemns and expresses it's deep anguish at the unfortunate and brutal incident. The Bar Council of India, will mention the same in the Supreme Court and at all other forums needed in order to have a fair, impartial and immediate investigation into the incident to book the guilty and to punish them in accordance with the provisions of Law. However, even in times of such distress, it is reminded that abstinence/ strike or boycott will not solve the problem", the letter stated. 

It was further mentioned in the letter that such frequent strikes are weakening the State Bar Councils and that such strikes have been considered illegal by the Supreme Court in light of the fact that the concerned advocates are officers of the court and are a part of the judicial machinery.

"Our profession, is considered as a noble profession and the professional work rendered by us is unique and for the benefit of the common man including aggrieved parties who come to Advocates in the hope that Advocates will be able to get them justice when all doors are closed for them", the letter read. 

Additionally, the BCI also assured that it would take up the issue with higher authorities and would try its best to implement the Advocates Protection Act at the earliest. 

Importantly, the BCI also requested Courts across the country especially in Uttar Pradesh to devise a mechanism to prevent the entry of persons with fire arms inside court premises. Courts were also directed to ensure that all possible entry and exist points at the court premises are manned and guarded properly. The letter stated that the BCI would soon take up the issue and try to have such a mechanism put in place by the respective State Governments.

The Uttar Pradesh Bar Council had sought  50 lakh compensation from the Uttar Pradesh Government for the deceased advocate. Additionally, the Council also had also pressed for providing government service to the dependents of the deceased advocate. 

Responding to such concerns, the BCI stated in its letter, 

"Even the claim for compensation, for the deceased brother Advocate, shall be supported by BCI, however, dear brothers and sisters of the fraternity, should not abstain from court work, it being against the directions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court and infact the same shall further make it difficult to fight for our rights with conviction , when we ourselves are violating court orders"

Click Here To Read/Download BCI's Letter