City lawyers call off strike as LG's video order put on hold

Lawyers across Delhi on Thursday called off their week-long strike after the Delhi Police informed them that the lieutenant governor (LG) VK Saxena's notification permitting police officers to depose before court via video conferencing from police stations has been put on hold. Officials said the order would now be implemented only after consultations with all stakeholders.

- Arnabjit Sur and Hemani Bhandari

The announcement came after members of bar associations met Union home ministry officials earlier in the day. During the meeting, it was conveyed that home minister Amit Shah would meet representatives of the Bar to discuss their objections and attempt a resolution.

In a statement, Delhi Police commissioner Satish Golchha said, “The operation of the said notification on the ground would be carried out after hearing all stakeholders.”

A police spokesperson clarified that the August 13 notification had designated police stations across Delhi as venues for online depositions. The move, however, drew immediate opposition from lawyers, who argued that allowing investigating officers and other witnesses to depose from their own stations could compromise the sanctity of trial proceedings.