Legal professionals in Delhi and Mumbai have voiced strong opposition to police actions taken against students protesting exam paper leaks and demanding reforms. The legal community has criticized the severe restrictions imposed on peaceful assemblies, describing these measures as assaults on constitutional rights and democratic dissent.
Delhi Lawyers Express Dismay
A collective of 650 lawyers in Delhi, including senior advocates like Indira Jaising, Raju Ramachandran, Chander Uday Singh, and Sanjay Hegde, have publicly decried the use of force by Delhi Police against peaceful protestors at Jantar Mantar on July 20, 2026. The incident occurred as students attempted to march to the Parliament.
“The sight of students facing violence instead of dialogue is unacceptable. Such police brutality against students undermines the principles of free expression, human dignity, and the right to dissent. We stand in solidarity with those affected,” reads their statement. Signatories also include former judges and renowned lawyers like Vrinda Grover, Prashant Bhushan, and Shahrukh Alam.
The statement emphasizes that “The Parliament of India is not an ivory tower beyond the reach of its citizens,” and calls for accountability for the excessive use of force. Lawyers have urged governmental and constitutional entities to safeguard peaceful demonstrators’ rights and ensure their safety.
The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has also passed a resolution condemning the lathi charges on students and legal professionals, demanding a fair and timely inquiry. The Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA) echoed these sentiments, expressing alarm over images of police using force against students advocating for public examination integrity.
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“In a constitutional democracy, peaceful dissent is not defiance but an exercise of fundamental freedoms under Articles 19(1)(a) and 19(1)(b) of the Constitution. Our Republic’s strength lies not in suppressing dissent but in protecting it,” states SCAORA.
Mumbai’s Legal Community Critiques Police Conduct
The Bombay Bar Association has expressed serious concern over reports and footage depicting police using lathi charges and tear gas against student protestors. The association underscores that peaceful protest is vital to democratic governance.
“If these reports are correct, the use of force against students exercising constitutional rights is deeply unsettling and unacceptable in a law-governed society,” the association notes. They criticize tactics like filing FIRs and blanket prohibitory orders imposed by Mumbai police.
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On July 21, over 120 lawyers, including senior advocates from the Bombay High Court, condemned continuous prohibitory orders from the Mumbai Police Commissioner. These orders, under Section 37(3) of the Maharashtra Police Act, banned assemblies and processions across Mumbai, resulting in over 300 detentions, including minors.
The lawyers argue that such prohibitions cannot exceed 15 days without State sanction. The consecutive orders, with only a 24-hour gap, seem designed to bypass this requirement. They call upon the Commissioner to rescind these orders, asserting they fail to meet legal standards.
“It should not fall on citizens to resort to already overburdened courts to challenge orders that lack a solid legal foundation,” the statement concludes.
