A group of lawyers gathered today at the Supreme Court lawns to read out the Preamble to the Constitution of India.
Copies of the Preamble were distributed to the lawyers present and the same was read out peacefully in unison.
Emphasis on the upholding of the tenets of the Constitution of India has gained traction over the past month, with protests against the purported unconstitutional nature of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 as well as the alleged police brutality inflicted upon students of various universities. The same has sparked widespread protests and marches across the country. In retaliation to curb the same, severe clampdown in the form of mass detentions and internet shutdowns have taken place.
A more recent controversy that has since prompted national debate concerns violence in Universities. Petitions alleging brutality by the police on students of the Jamia Milia Islamia University and the Aligarh Muslim University were initially filed before the Supreme Court.
The demonstration comes in the backdrop of protests following the passing of the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019.
Recently, a gathering of Madras High Court lawyers also read out the Preamble of the Constitution as part of a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act.
A number of petitions challenging various aspects of the controversial legislation are pending before the Supreme Court. The Bench led by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde is due to take up the matter later this month.
However, after the Supreme Court declined to take up the matter on an urgent basis, the petitions were redirected to be taken up by the respective jurisdictional courts.
A statement was also issued by the Supreme Court Bar Association today condemning the violence on JNU students:
“The Executive Committee of the Supreme Court Bar Association today resolved to strongly condemn the violence against JNU students by anti-social elements. It further resolved to condemn the inaction on the part of Delhi Police, and called upon the authorities to act and ensure that the Rule of Law prevailed”, the statement said.
Last weekend, armed persons entered the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus to attack the university students.
