Punjab and Haryana High Court Advocates Strike Over Assault on Bar Members
Lawyers Demand FIR and Arrests, Paralyzing Court Operations in Chandigarh
NewArc Bureau
Chandigarh, September 18, 2025 – The Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association (PHHCBA) launched an indefinite strike today, bringing court proceedings in Chandigarh to a standstill. The protest, sparked by an alleged violent assault on bar members by two senior advocates, has disrupted thousands of cases, leaving litigants stranded and benches adjourned indefinitely.
Bar Association Demands Immediate Arrests, Warns of Prolonged Agitation
The strike began at 9:30 AM, with over 5,000 advocates boycotting court duties in a show of solidarity. PHHCBA Acting President Jasdev Singh Brar condemned the “unprecedented breach of decorum” within the court complex, pointing fingers at advocates Ravneet Kaur and Simranjit Singh Blassi for allegedly orchestrating the attack on bar executives.
According to a notice issued by the association late Wednesday, the incident occurred during an executive committee meeting in the Bar Association office. Kaur allegedly stormed in, verbally abusing and physically assaulting the Secretary, while Blassi, reportedly wielding a sword, attacked multiple members, creating a climate of fear. Eyewitnesses described chaos, with bar staff intervening to prevent further violence, though several members sustained minor injuries.
“We will not tolerate such hooliganism in the court’s sacred premises. The police’s inaction has emboldened these elements,” Brar declared at a press briefing outside the court gates. The PHHCBA demands the immediate registration of an FIR against Kaur and Blassi under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for assault, criminal intimidation, and unlawful assembly, alongside their prompt arrest and a special investigation team (SIT) probe.
The association has threatened to continue the strike “for as long as it takes” unless their demands are met, risking disruption to the court’s daily docket of over 4,000 cases. This follows a Supreme Court rebuke in July 2024 over a similar PHHCBA boycott, citing the *Ex-Capt. Harish Uppal v. Union of India* ruling, which labels lawyer strikes as holding litigants to ransom.
Litigants Suffer as Justice Delivery Halts
The strike’s impact has reverberated across Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh, stranding petitioners with urgent matters like land disputes and bail hearings.
Court insiders report that while administrative staff continue minimal operations, the absence of counsel has stalled substantive hearings. Chief Justice Sheel Nagu’s bench issued a suo motu notice today, directing the PHHCBA to appear on September 20 to justify the disruption, with potential contempt proceedings looming.
This is not the first unrest at the High Court. In February 2025, the bar briefly struck over the now-scrapped Advocates (Amendment) Bill, and a February 2024 clash with Sector 28 traders in Chandigarh led to a one-day suspension, highlighting ongoing tensions within the legal community.
Police confirmed receiving the bar’s complaint but cited “procedural verifications” for delaying the FIR. Chandigarh SSP Kanwardeep Kaur assured advocates this morning that an SIT would be formed by evening, pending a preliminary inquiry. “We are committed to restoring peace in judicial premises and will act decisively once facts are verified,” she said.
As the court complex—typically bustling with robed advocates and urgent filings—fell silent, the PHHCBA stood firm. “This strike is a last resort to protect the bar’s dignity. Justice delayed for us today is justice denied for all tomorrow,” Brar said, pressing the judiciary and police for swift action.
With the Supreme Court likely to monitor the situation, the coming days will test the balance between professional grievances and public duty, as Chandigarh’s halls of justice remain eerily quiet.
