The executive committee of the High Court Bar Association met on 25th September 2022 after 1.5 kilograms of narcotic substance was found in the car of Chandigarh-based lawyer Ashok Sehgal. At the meeting of the executive committee of the High Court Bar Association, the committee passed a resolution that the Lawyers Protection Act should be introduced into the assembly and should implement soon. This will protect lawyers from such incidents.
A demand letter in this regard will also be sent to the relevant authorities. A formal notice will also be sent to the Punjab and Haryana Bar Associations.
On the other hand, a PIL is also brought before the High Court demanding that lawyers be ensured that they are not debarred from their professional duties. At the same time, obstructing a lawyer’s practice should be considered contempt of court.
After the incident of getting Narcotic Substance from Segal’s car, a brotherhood of lawyers has stood by him. Lawyers say there is a conspiracy involving Sehgal. The narcotics substance was recovered late at night from a car parked outside the home of Sehgal, his resident area in Sector 15. The bar association strongly condemned the incident.
At a meeting held in the presence of Bar Association Santovwinder Singh Grewal (Nabha), the committee was informed that a drug plant had been installed in the car of Advocate Segal. Attempts were made to misrepresent him. The lawyer’s car and narcotic substance were seized by the police. The committee cited facts, evidence and CCTV footage that say that someone planted a narcotic substance in the lawyer’s car and prevented the lawyer from performing her duties.
The President and Secretary of the Bar Association have pledged to protect the safety of the members of the Bar Association (lawyers). An impartial and independent investigation was called for to catch the true suspects. At the same time, it was assured that no harsh action would be taken against the lawyer in this case.
The committee said there had been many incidents of attacks on lawyers and others, but this incident was extremely serious and unacceptable. Attacking lawyers and trying to implicate them in false cases is a severe problem and needs to be addressed by authorities.
A fine of 10,000 will be imposed if the lawyer appears in the High Court on the 26th.
The Executive Committee said that it would take the necessary steps in this matter. Police departments do a free and fair investigation of cases and find the true suspects. In protest of this case, work in the High Court will be stopped on September 26 and they will be praying to the High Court that no adverse order will be issued. Members of the bar association were also asked not to appear in court to hear the case on 26th September. A penalty of Rs 10,000 will have to be paid for the violation of orders.
