The Delhi High Court taking suo moto cognizance today (December 20, 2019) agreed to take action against the lawyers who chanted “shame, shame” during the Jamia violence hearing yesterday (December 19, 2019). The Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, DN Patel said that a committee will be set up that will look into the matter and decide the appropriate course of action.

A group of lawyers appeared before the Court initiation of contempt proceedings against the lawyers who chanted “shame” during the Jamia University hearing yesterday. Lawyers asked the court, “Is this the image of the judiciary we want to send out internationally? It’s important for the HC to send a loud and clear message that such actions will not be allowed. High Court should not take this lying down. The country is changing, it’s time to be stern!”

Earlier, the Court had declined to provide interim protection to students protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019, from coercive action including arrests by police as sought by them, as petitioners in a matter filed against violent excesses of the Delhi police. The lawyers present in the court at the time of the hearing had chanted “shame, shame” in unison, after the judge gave the order declining relief to grieving students.