Lawyers protest 'VVIP treatment' to Lawrence Bishnoi

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 11

The legal fraternity and judicial officials were miffed over denying them entry into the court complex with gangster Lawrence Bishnoi being produced in the court following the expiry of his police remand.

The court complex was turned into a fortress and a heavy police force was deputed to facilitate his production. As hearing in the case got delayed, the police did not allow lawyers and even judicial officials and litigants from entering the premises till the time Bishnoi was in the court complex. Even cops who were seeking entry into the complex to join their duties were seen arguing with policemen.

The Amritsar Bar Association held a protest against the Punjab Police. They wrote to the Punjab and Haryana HC’s inspecting judge alleging that many law officers remained stuck outside the court as entry was denied into the complex by the cops.

They alleged that VVIP treatment was being extended to the criminal due to which court work got disrupted. Vipin Dhand, president of the Amritsar Bar Association, said all gates were sealed and lawyers were not allowed to enter the complex for their work.

“Owing to strictness adopted by the police, the work of the local court remained hampered for a couple of hours. People, including litigants, faced harassment at the hands of the police who did not allow them to enter the court,” said Vipin Dhand. He added that the association had written to the high court’s inspecting judge questioning why the gangster was being given the VVIP treatment.

Parminder Singh Bhandal, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), said the police had made appropriate arrangements in the court due to security reasons. He said they had planned for his early hearing, but due to certain legal issues, it got delayed.

He said no such problems were faced by lawyers and judicial officials as he himself let them entered the complex. Even the route was diverted for entering the court complex.

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