New Delhi, Mar 21 (UNI) Supreme Court on Thursday took up a suo motu case over the attack on senior advocate Gaurav Bhatia in the district court, Gautam Buddh Nagar by the lawyers who were on strike there and issued notice to the respondents.
Taking up the matter on an urgent basis, a bench headed by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud issued notice to the lawyers' body which was on strike and allegedly attacked Bhatia when he appeared before the district court of Gautam Buddh Nagar.
The matter came up for hearing on Thursday morning when the attack on Bhatia was mentioned before the apex judiciary.

Senior Advocate Vikas Singh told the court that one lawyer snatched Bhatia's band when he was in Noida court. He urged the CJI-led bench to initiate action.
CJI Chandrachud directed, “Notice shall in addition be served through the SSP Gautam Budh Nagar."
He also directed that the District Judge, Gautam Budh Nagar, ensure that the Cbe kept in safe custody pending further orders. and submit a report to the top court on the incident.

He also directed the district judge to obtain a report from the administrative staff attached to the court and in whose court the lady advocate Muskan Gupta has alleged the manhandling took place.

Bar Council of India (BCI) apprised the court that they have taken note of the incident and action will be taken.
Singh argued that as per the Supreme Court's judgment, lawyers' strikes are banned. He further said lawyer Muskan Gupta, who was with Bhatia, was also attacked.
The CJI asked Gupta about the incident. She replied that she was pushed and attacked and was asked to leave.

The CJI said, “The matter of urgency has been mentioned by the Attorney General Mr Venkataramni, Senior advocates Mr KK Venugopal, Mr Vikas Singh and Mr Jayant Bhushan. The issue which is placed before this court bears on an incident which took place before the Court of District Judge, Gautam Budh Nagar on March 20, 2024. The genesis of the incident is from a letter written by the District Judge to the President of the Bar Association".
The CJI further said on March 20, the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) passed a resolution adverting to the incident. The Counsel appearing for BCI also statDs that it is taking cognisance of the incident,
The CJI then went on to say, “ In repeated judgments, this Court has deprecated strikes by bar associations. The reason for this is that the members of the bar represent individual litigants involving their grievances. Hence a strike by the members of the bar immediately affects the litigants who are the most vital stakeholders.”
“There is no reason why this Court should not accept what is placed on the record. Ordinarily, we would have insisted on a petition. But the attack on two members of the SCBA is a serious issue.” The CJI said.
“We accordingly direct the Register to register a suo motu writ petition. Notice shall be issued to the President, Secretary of the Jan path Diwani Bar Association Gautam Budh Nagar returnable on April 01, 2024, at 10.30 am," The CJI directed. UNI SNG SY SSP