Delhi lawyers call off strike as police agree to physical deposition in courts

Representative Image

The lawyers of the Delhi District Court Bar Associations on Monday (September 8) ended their strike after their demand for the physical presence of police personnel in court for depositions was accepted.

This development followed a circular issued by Delhi Police on Monday, instructing all police officers to appear in person before the courts for evidence.

"In partial modification of the earlier letter no.9860-72/CP Sectt/PHQ dated 04.09.2025, it is hereby directed that in all criminal trials, all police officers/personnel shall physically appear before the Hon'ble Courts for the purpose of deposition/evidence. This has the approval of Commissioner of Police, Delhi," the circular said.

The strike had been called in protest against a notification by the Lieutenant Governor Vinai Saxena that permitted police personnel to testify via video conferencing from their stations.

The notification was first issued on August 13, following which lawyers boycotted work between August 22 and August 28.

The strike was put on hold after the Delhi Police withdrew the order and Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured the protesting lawyers of a meeting.

But on September 4, the Delhi Police reissued the notification, permitting formal police witnesses to testify through video conferencing. It also said that if the defence sought the physical appearance of a police witness, the presiding judge could evaluate the request on its merits and permit examination in person.

Following the Delhi Police circular on Monday (September 8), the lawyers of the Delhi District Court Bar Associations called off their strike as their demand for physical deposition by police officials in court had been met.

Delhi Police Circular

On Saturday evening, however, the Coordination Committee had earlier rejected a request by the Bar Council of India (BCI) to withdraw the planned strike against depositions from police stations. The committee had declared that there would be a complete abstention from work if their genuine demands were not fulfilled.

After a meeting of office bearers, the Coordination Committee reiterated its position, stating, "We firmly stand on our demand and reiterate that police personnel have to appear only in physical mode in the courts for the deposition/evidence."

Earlier that day, BCI Chairman and Senior Advocate Manan Kumar Mishra had issued a letter urging the recall of the strike and inviting the Coordination Committee to participate in a proposed meeting with the BCI and the Bar Council of Delhi.

The committee, however, responded firmly, saying, "However, we would like to make it crystal clear that the Coordination Committee has raised the agitation to protect the interest of public at large and will continue with the agitation till our genuine demand is not met with."

It further warned that, "The committee said that its genuine demand that all the police officials have to appear physically before the court for deposition/ evidence is not acceded to, we shall continue with our call for indefinite abstention from work from September 8, 2025 and the same shall be in a more intensified manner."

With inputs from agencies