Delhi Bar Associations Withdraw Strike After Police Says Its Officials Shall Physically Appear Before Courts For Evidence

The district court bar associations of Delhi have decided to withdraw their strike after a clarification was issued today (September 8) by the Delhi Police that its officials shall appear physically in the Courts before the national capital for deposition or recording of their evidence.

A circular issued today by the Coordination Committee of all district court bar associations of Delhi reads:

“Since a Circular has been issued from the office of Commissioner of Police that "in all criminal trials, all police officials/ personnel shall physically appear before the Hon'ble Court for the purpose of deposition/ evidence", the Co-ordination Committee in its meeting held today has resolved that since our demand for direction of police officials to appear physically in courts for the purpose of deposition/ evidence, has been met with, call for abstinence from work is being withdrawn.”

On August 13, Delhi LG VK Saxena issued a notification designating all police stations in Delhi as places for police personnel to present evidence and depose before courts through video conferencing.

Following protests by the Bar, a circular was issued by the Delhi Police on September 04 clarifying that only formal police witnesses will be examined through video conferencing from police stations.

However, the Coordination Committee of all the district courts issued a circular again calling for indefinite strike today on the ground that the police circular is contrary to the assurances given by the authorities.

Senior Advocate Manan Kumar Mishra, Chairman of the Bar Council of India, had written to the Coordination Committee to defer or recall the strike. He even invited the Coordination Committee to participate in a joint meeting with BCI and Bar Council of Delhi for today but the proposal was rejected.

Accordingly, the Special Commissioner then issued a Circular today, stating, “In partial modification of the earlier letter…dated 04.09.2025, it is hereby directed that in all criminal trials, all police officers/personnel shall physically appear before the Hon'ble Courts for the purpose of deposition/evidence. This has the approval of Commissioner of Police, Delhi.”