The Delhi High Court on Tuesday declined to initiate suo motu proceedings concerning the alleged conduct of suspended Delhi Police ACP Manasvi Vashishta, who is accused of making threatening remarks against lawyers. The court instead directed the advocates seeking action to submit a formal petition supported by the material available to them.
A Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma said the allegations could be examined once the lawyers placed the relevant documents and evidence before the court through its registry.
The bench emphasised that, as a court of record, it required material to be formally submitted before considering the matter. It assured the advocates that their concerns would be examined if they filed an appropriate petition.
Lawyers Raise Allegations of Threatening Remarks
During the mentioning, the advocates drew the court’s attention to statements allegedly made against members of the legal profession, including references to the use of an AK-47 and the expression kale coat ke gunde, meaning goons in black coats.
One of the lawyers urged the bench to intervene on its own motion, submitting that such action by the High Court would reassure the legal fraternity.
However, the judges maintained that the advocates should present their allegations and supporting material through a properly instituted petition rather than seek suo motu intervention.
Dispute Followed Alleged Assault at Shahdara Police Station
The controversy began with an incident at Shahdara police station on October 23, when advocate Lalit Bansal allegedly suffered a serious head injury during a scuffle.
The incident led to a confrontation between lawyers and police personnel at the station. District court lawyers subsequently launched an indefinite strike, demanding action against the officers allegedly involved in the assault and the confrontation that followed.
Amid the protests, Delhi Police ordered the transfer of two officers on October 28.
Vashishta, who was serving as the sub-divisional police officer in Gandhi Nagar, was transferred to the Special Police Unit for Women and Children (SPUWAC).
Inspector Arun Kumar, then Station House Officer of Shahdara police station, was moved to the security unit.
Following these transfers, the lawyers withdrew their strike.
Police Headquarters Protest Leads to Fresh Controversy
The dispute escalated again on Monday when Vashishta joined a group of Delhi Police personnel in a demonstration outside the police headquarters against the transfers.
During the protest, certain remarks were made concerning lawyers, leading to renewed objections from members of the legal profession.
The Ministry of Home Affairs subsequently suspended Vashishta.
The lawyers approached the High Court seeking suo motu action over his alleged conduct, but the bench made it clear that any judicial examination of the allegations would require a formal petition supported by relevant material.
