New Delhi: The week-long lawyers’ strike in the national capital ended on Thursday after Delhi police’s assurance that the notification permitting police officials to depose before courts via videoconferencing from police stations has been put on hold.

Lawyers across the city had launched a strike last week, which escalated sharply on Wednesday, opposing a notification passed by lieutenant governor V.K. Saxena that allowed investigating officers and other witnesses to depose from police stations.

Lawyers protesting the move argued that this could hamper the judicial process and impact the sanctity of trial proceedings, the Hindustan Times reported.

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.”

The announcement came after members of the bar associations met Union home ministry officials earlier in the day, the report said.

The notification will remain in abeyance until consultations with all stakeholders are completed, a police spokesperson said. “The Union home minister would meet the representatives of the Bar to discuss the issue with an open mind,” they added.

All District Courts Bar Association of Delhi has written to Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta and LG Saxena on August 18 and 20 respectively, the paper reported.

The lawyers’ strike had impacted courtroom proceedings across the city with even prosecutors prevented from participating in hearings. 

The Supreme Court in its judgements has held lawyers’ strikes as illegal and unethical as they obstruct justice and impact people’s access to courts. 

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