Lawyers across Delhi district courts staged a complete strike against the LG’s notification permitting police officers to depose from police stations via video conferencing. Bar leaders warned the move threatens fair trial rights and vowed indefinite agitation if not withdrawn.
New Delhi: Lawyers in all district courts across Delhi have continued their protest on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, by completely abstaining from work. The protest is against the Lieutenant Governor’s recent notification that allows police officers to give their statements in court cases through video conferencing directly from their police stations.
The Coordination Committee of All District Courts Bar Associations issued a circular after its meeting with the Chief Minister, saying that the meeting had not produced any positive outcome.
The circular stated:
“Thus, it has been unanimously decided to continue to completely abstain from work on 26.08.2025, in all District Courts of Delhi against the arbitrary notification dated 13.08.2025 issued by the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi in defiance of the circular dated 15.07.2024 issued by the Home Secretary, Govt. of India.”
The lawyers have also decided that public prosecutors, including those from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), along with police officials posted in NAIB courts, will not be permitted to appear in court during the strike.
The circular also added that since the notification affects the general public and the criminal justice system as a whole, demonstrations will be organised outside all court complexes in Delhi on August 26, 2025.
The lawyers have thanked members of the New Delhi Bar Association and others for their support. The circular said they were grateful for the unity and solidarity shown and called for continued support in the agitation.
Tarun Rana, Additional Secretary General of the Coordination Committee of All District Courts Bar Associations of Delhi, explained the stand of the lawyers:
“We are very hopeful that everything will be resolved. This protest is not about lawyers; it is about the fundamental right to a free and fair trial. Advocates have no personal interest in this. The basic concept of a criminal trial is fairness, and we are fighting for that. Every individual has a constitutional right to a free and fair trial.”
The Bar Council of India (BCI) has also expressed strong concern over the Lieutenant Governor’s decision. In a communication addressed to the LG, the BCI said the notification could harm the rights of the accused and weaken the credibility of criminal trials.
It urged the LG to take back the notification immediately and to continue the practice of recording the evidence of police officers in person before the court.
The notification was issued under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS). The Lieutenant Governor has expanded the list of designated video conferencing centres by declaring all Delhi police stations as “designated places” for police officers to give evidence.
This includes 179 territorial police stations and specialised units like Railways (8), Metro (16), Cyber (15), Crime (2), Special Cell (1), IGI Airport (2), Economic Offences Wing (1), Crimes Against Women (1), and Vigilance (1).
The official notification stated:
“In exercise of the powers conferred by the second proviso to sub-section (3) of Section 265, read with the second proviso to sub-section (2) of Section 266 and Section 308 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (Act 46 of 2023), and S.O. 2506(E) dated 28 June 2024 issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, and further in continuation of this Government’s notification issued vide No. F.9/71/2024/Home(G)/2053-2071 dated 17 July 2024, the Lt. Governor, Delhi, hereby amends the Schedule appended to the aforesaid Notification.”
Section 265(3) of BNSS allows the examination of a witness through video conferencing, but only from a place that is officially designated by the state government. Section 308 of BNSS further requires that all evidence in a trial be recorded in the presence of the accused or, if their presence is excused, in the presence of their lawyer.
The notification itself made it clear:
“The amendment came into force with immediate effect.”
However, the move has received widespread criticism from the legal community. The Executive Committee of the Delhi High Court Bar Association said:
“The Executive Committee of the Delhi High Court Bar Association is of the firm view that the said notification ought to be withdrawn as it is against the basic tenets of justice and the principle of fair trial. Its implementation will jeopardise the trial process and adversely impact the outcome of such trials.”
The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) also issued a statement strongly opposing the notification. In its official release, the SCBA described the move as
“arbitrary, unlawful, and against the principles of natural justice.”
The statement also warned that
“the measure not only undermines the sanctity of judicial proceedings but also compromises the fairness of the process.”
Bar leaders have warned that if their demands are not accepted, they are ready to launch an indefinite agitation.
The strike has already caused major disruptions in the functioning of district courts across Delhi. While some urgent custody matters were heard, most trial hearings and regular proceedings were adjourned.
The Coordination Committee has defended the protest, stating that the notification damages the very foundation of fair trials.
Lawyers have argued that allowing police officers to testify from their own stations through video conferencing is against transparency and opens up the risk of witnesses being prompted or influenced.
Circular: The Coordination Committee of All District Courts Bar Associations of Delhi
Date: August 26, 2025
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