The Supreme Court has condemned the violent conduct of lawyers in a toll assault case, stating that the legal profession has been 'tainted and tarnished' by incidents of hooliganism.
A bench of justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta granted bail to toll plaza employees accused of assault and transferred the trial to Delhi, noting that the accused had been denied legal representation due to the prevailing atmosphere.
The case arises from a January 14 incident at the Gotona Bara toll plaza in Uttar Pradesh, where an altercation broke out after an advocate allegedly refused to pay toll charges.
The situation escalated after members of the local bar association launched protests, and a resolution was circulated stating that no advocate would represent the accused employees.
Despite this, one lawyer filed a bail application on behalf of the accused, which was followed by 'unruly behaviour', with members of the bar setting fire to his office furniture and targeting him for defying the collective decision.
The court noted that such acts created an atmosphere of fear, effectively preventing the accused from securing legal representation in the state and compelling them to approach the Supreme Court under Article 32 seeking bail and transfer of proceedings.
The court described the developments as a 'very sorry state of affairs' and said that while a sense of fraternity among lawyers may exist, it 'by no means can justify acts of violence and lawlessness'.
The court also directed the Director General of Police, Uttar Pradesh, to ensure the safety and security of the accused and to escort them to a safe location upon their release.
