Delhi Lawyers’ Coordination Committee Calls for Suspension of ACP and SHO Pending Inquiry

Delhi Lawyers Demand Suspension of ACP and SHO Following Shahdara Court Incident

New Delhi, October 27, 2026: The Coordination Committee of All District Court Bar Associations of Delhi has demanded the immediate suspension of ACP Manish Vashishtha and the concerned Station House Officer (SHO) of Shahdara Police Station, pending an impartial inquiry into an incident involving an advocate.

The committee also announced a one-day abstention from judicial work across all district courts in Delhi on October 27, calling for accountability over alleged police misconduct and raising concerns about the safety and dignity of members of the legal fraternity.

Dispute Follows Alleged Assault on Advocate

The matter relates to an incident involving Advocate Dalit Bansal, who reportedly sustained injuries following an assault. Advocate Anurag Ratan has been identified as a complainant in the matter.

The committee discussed the incident at an emergency meeting held on October 26, 2026, after considering the circumstances surrounding the registration of FIR No. 0252/2026 at Police Station Shahdara on October 26.

The committee expressed concern over the allegations and the implications for the legal profession. The allegations and the circumstances of the incident remain matters requiring appropriate investigation.

Lawyers Raise Concerns Over Police Conduct

The committee stated that several advocates visited Shahdara Police Station on the evening of October 23 to seek appropriate legal action in connection with the incident.

During their visit, the ACP and SHO allegedly told the advocates that the persons named in the case would be arrested. The committee said that more than 80 advocates were present at the police station when the incident unfolded.

The committee further stated that some advocates subsequently came to know that the individuals concerned had been released. It raised questions about the handling of the case and called for an impartial examination of the circumstances.

Demand for Impartial Inquiry

The committee has called for the immediate suspension of the concerned police officials while an impartial inquiry is conducted.

It also emphasised that complaints involving advocates should be handled in accordance with the law and that allegations of misconduct must be examined fairly. The committee warned against conduct that could undermine confidence in the justice system or affect the professional dignity and safety of lawyers.

The demand for suspension is a position adopted by the committee and does not establish that the allegations against the police officials have been proven.

One-Day Abstention from Court Work

As part of its protest, the committee resolved that lawyers would abstain from judicial work in all district courts in Delhi on October 27, 2026.

The move was described as a collective expression of concern over the reported incident and a call for accountability. The committee also appealed to members of the legal fraternity to maintain unity and solidarity while pursuing their demands through appropriate institutional channels.

Copies of the resolution were marked for the Chief Justice of India through the Registrar General, the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, the Commissioner of Police, Delhi, and senior judicial and bar association representatives.

The committee’s demands now centre on an impartial inquiry, accountability for any established misconduct, and measures to ensure that advocates can perform their professional duties without intimidation.