Violence in Darjeeling a day after polls, boy injured
Chopra: A day after Darjeeling went to polls in the second phase of Lok sabha elections, violence broke out in the Hills Friday allegedly between the supporters of rival political parties, triggering panic among the locals, an election official said.
Bombs were hurled and bullets fired by unidentified men, injuring a student of a local school in Chopra area of the Darjeeling seat, he said.
A huge contingent of state police has been sent to the Hills take control of the situation, the official said.
"Police personnel are doing the needful to bring the situation under control. We are trying to find out who all are creating disturbances in the area. No one has been arrested so far," he told PTI.
Asked about the condition of the injured boy, the official said he was undergoing treatment at a local hospital, but could not give details about the nature of his injuries.
The EC had described Wednesday's polling in three Lok Sabha constituencies -- Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Raiganj -- as "peaceful", but stray incidents of violence were reported from Chopra and Islampur in Raiganj seat among other areas.
Voters in Chopra had put up a road blockade Thursday in protest against the absence of central forces at the polling booths, where they were reportedly stopped from exercising their franchise.
The police had to burst tear gas shells to control the irate mob, who threw stones at them. Several police personnel were injured in the clashes, the official said.
In Raiganj, a reporter and a camera person of a local news channel were manhandled as they were covering the poll process in Kataphulbari area, he said, adding that an FIR has been filed in the case.
In another area of the constituency, miscreants damaged the EVMs and VVPATs.
Till 6pm Wednesday, an estimated 79.35 per cent polling was recorded in Raiganj and 86.44 per cent n Jalpaiguri, another election official said.
"We are yet to receive the poll figures from Darjeeling. The polling agents from remote areas of the Hill constituency haven't returned as yet," he added.
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BCI urges CJI to take action against Andhra HC judge for sending young lawyer to 24-hour custody
New Delhi (PTI): The Bar Council of India on Wednesday sought the urgent intervention of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant following a "deeply disturbing" incident where a judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court reportedly sent a young advocate to
24-hour judicial custody over a procedural lapse.
The Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairperson and senior advocate Manan Kumar Mishra, in a formal representation, termed the conduct of Justice Tarlada Rajasekhar Rao "grossly inappropriate" and "damaging to the confidence of the Bar".
“I most respectfully request your Lordship to kindly take immediate institutional cognizance of the matter and call for the video recording of the proceedings, the order passed, and the surrounding circumstances.
“I further request that appropriate administrative action may kindly be considered, including withdrawal of judicial work from the learned Judge pending review, his immediate transfer to some far off High Court, and his nomination for appropriate judicial training/orientation on court management, judicial temperament, Bar-Bench relations, and proportional exercise of contempt/judicial authority,” Mishra wrote.
This representation is made to preserve the “dignity, moral authority and public confidence of the judiciary”, he said, adding, “Judges command the highest respect not by fear, but by fairness, patience, restraint and constitutional humility”.
The communication urged the CJI to intervene at the earliest to ensure that the faith of Bar, particularly young advocates, in the protective and corrective role of the judiciary is restored.
The controversy stems from proceedings on May 5.
According to the BCI, a video circulating online shows Justice Rao rebuking a young advocate who was unable to produce a specific order copy during a hearing.
The letter said that despite the advocate "repeatedly seeking pardon and mercy" and claiming he was in physical pain, the judge remained "unmoved".
The judge allegedly told the lawyer, "now you will learn," and mocked his experience before directing the Registrar and police personnel to take him into custody for 24 hours.
The BCI chairperson said that the judge’s actions lacked proportionality and fairness.
"The dignity of the court is not enhanced when a lawyer is made to beg for grace in open court and is still sent to custody for a procedural lapse," the letter said.
"A young lawyer... is an officer of the Court, still learning, still growing, and entitled to correction without humiliation," it added.
The bar body said that such actions create a "chilling effect" on the legal fraternity, particularly among junior members, and undermine the mutual respect required between the Bench and the Bar.
