Around 80,000 lawyers across the state would abstain from work in the second half on June 18 to protest against alleged police high-handedness and atrocities on practising lawyers in various district courts.

“There have been several instances of police atrocities on lawyers in recent months. Lawyers from across the state, including that of Patna High Court, would abstain from work in the second half on June 18 as a mark of protest. Lawyers would also submit a memorandum to the chief justice of the high court and also to the seniormost judges in the district demanding action against erring officials,” Bihar State Bar Council chairperson Baleshwar Prasad Sharma told The Telegraph.

Sharma said: “We will, through the memorandum, seek enactment of Advocate Protection Act under which there would be a provision to inform or take prior permission from the local bar association before arresting a lawyer if charged with petty offences.”

Jai Prakash Singh, a member of the state bar council and the former president of Patna District Bar Association, recounted several instances of police excesses in recent months wherein lawyers were either illegally detained or arrested.

On April 19, police illegally detained Anil Kumar Singh, a lawyer in Samastipur civil court, acting on the directive of the district magistrate (DM) and the deputy development commissioner (DDC), for allegedly extorting money for drafting a petition, Jai Prakash said. He added that it was alleged that the lawyer had taken Rs 30 as bribe from Jarina Khatun, a widow, for writing an application to include her name in the below poverty line (BPL) list. The application was submitted to the DM’s janata darbar that was conducted by the DDC on his behalf.