Thousands of Lawyers in India’s capital of New Delhi have refused to work and boycotted court proceedings in protest of changes to criminal code.
Many people have been outraged by new regulations that went into effect on July 1, which expanded police powers to keep people in pre-trial detention and required courts to make written verdicts within 45 days of the conclusion of a trial.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has defended the amendments, which include the death penalty for gang rape of women under the age of 18, as “victim-centric,” modernizing the system, and “ending the endless wait for justice.”
However, Lawyers’ organisations, opposition parties, and activists have asked for a delay, claiming that the revisions will give the police undue powers and put further strain on an already overworked justice system as lawyers strive to interpret and contest the new legislative requirements.
According to N.C. Sharma, spokesperson for the All District Courts Bar Associations of Delhi, lawyers from seven district courts in New Delhi participated in the strike on Monday.
The the Patiala House district court in New Delhi was unusually quiet on Monday.
According to a court officer who spoke on the condition of anonymity, several cases were not argued, and lawyers requested adjournments. Reports said
The Indian Supreme Court and the High Court continued to function properly.
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