Tis Hazari Court incident: BCD chairman KK Manan takes cognizance of viral videos, sets up fact finding panel

A fact-finding committee was established on Thursday by the Bar Council of Delhi (BCD) in response to viral footage showing two groups of lawyers fighting in Tis Hazari court. The committee has three days to submit its report.

Advocates Lalit Sharma and Sachin Sangwan’s enrollment was temporarily halted by BCD on Thursday with immediate effect. These advocates allegedly have ties to a DBA office bearer. Atul Sharma, the secretary of the Delhi Bar Association, is the brother of Lalit Sharma.

BCD chairman and senior advocate KK Manan on Thursday issued a notice in this regard. He took the decision after taking note of viral videos of the firing incident. It said it was brought to the notice of the chairman that in a viral video clip on the above incident, Lalit Sharma was found involved in the firing incident on the Tis Hazari Court premises.

The fact finding committee shall inquire as to who all were involved in the violent incident at Tis Hazari, alongwith their enrolment numbers and place of practice.
This committee would comprise advocates BCD member Rajiv Khosla; former president, Delhi High Court Bar Association and former president, Delhi Bar Association, Himal Akhtar; co-chairman and former vice-chairman, BCD, Rakesh Sherawat; member and former chairman, BCD, RN Vats; former member, BCD and former president, Delhi Bar Association, Vinod Sharma.

The last named is also the president of Saket Bar Association.
The committee shall enquire as to how many outsiders were involved in the incident and who brought them. The committee will also deliberate and find how the “deep-rooted conspiracy” to malign the advocate fraternity at large is being propagated on the social media, notice issued on July 6 read.
The Secretary, BCD issued a letter to Sachin Sangwan informing him of the suspension of his licence.
The letter issued by Col (Retd.) Arun Sharma, secretary, BCD said the Council has taken suo-moto cognizance of a viral video of the incident in which two groups of advocates clashed, hurled abuses and even resorted to firing on the Tis Hazari Court premises on July 5.
“You (Sachin Sabgwan) being an advocate resorting to violence that too inside the court premises is highly deplorable and is gross misconduct,” the notice read.
“The BCD chairman, under the power vested in him under section Rule 42, Chapter-IV of Bar Council of Delhi Rules, has suspended your licence to practice as an advocate, with immediate effect,” the notice stated further.
Tis Hazari court on Thursday evening remanded Sachin Sangwan, along with two others — Aman Singh and Ravi Gupta — in 4 days’ police custody.