Chandigarh: Bar associations across Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh suspended work today in solidarity with Mansa-based advocate Amninder Singh Mann, who faces a police case under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The coordinated move follows earlier work suspensions by all Bar associations in Punjab on Monday, as well as prior strike actions at the Mansa district and sub-divisional courts over the weekend.
The case stems from an FIR registered at the Cyber Crime Police Station in Mansa on August 18, following allegations that Amninder made remarks concerning Jasvir Singh Garhi, a former chairman of the Punjab State Commission for Scheduled Castes who subsequently joined the Aam Aadmi Party. Law enforcement officials confirmed that no arrests have been made in connection with the investigation so far.
Legal representatives have questioned the legal grounds used to register the case. District Bar Association Mansa president Gurdas Singh Mann affirmed that while a comment was made regarding Garhi, there was no factual or legal justification for invoking the strict provisions of the SC/ST Act against the advocate.
The region-wide work suspension has temporarily halted routine judicial proceedings in several district complexes. Legal fraternity leaders stated that they will continue to review the situation while seeking a formal review of the charges filed against their colleague.
