The Supreme Court on Thursday (February 26) ordered a judicial probe into the Madras High Court violence. The SC also appointed retired apex court judge Justice B Srikrishna to head an inquiry into the police excesses. The committee will submit its interim report within two weeks to apex court.
Meanwhile, the bench said that the Joint Commissioner of Police and three DCP whose names have cropped up in the incident will be transferred to facilitate the inquiry. The apex court also said that the police station damaged inside the High Court premises during the clashes will not be revived without its order.
The committee set up by the High Court to inquire into the incident of clash will stand scrapped, the court said. The bench, however, allowed other two committees set up by the High Court to assess the damage to the vehicles and the properties of the Court and to look into the injuries caused to the lawyers to function.
The SC asked the lawyers, who are on a strike since January 29, to withdraw their agitation at the earliest. The court posted the matter for further hearing on March 3. Appealing to the agitating lawyers to maintain decorum and discipline in the court, the Bench said they should not hold meetings and shout any slogans in the Court corridors.
Advocates, agitating on Sri Lankan issue, and police clashed over arrest of some lawyers accused of assaulting Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy in the Madras High Court on February 19.