Chandigarh, September 18 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association (PHHCBA) on Thursday evening called off its strike after Chief Justice Sheel Nagu assured the Bar of his support and police registered a criminal case against two lawyers, including one arrested for brandishing a sword inside the court.
The decision followed a meeting between the Bar leaders and the chief justice earlier in the day, as well as the arrest of 39-year-old advocate Simranjit Singh Blassi of Ferozepur. Blassi was taken into custody late Wednesday night after a video circulated showing him in Nihang attire, wielding a sword and allegedly attacking fellow advocates inside the high court.
Police confirmed that Blassi, along with lawyer Ravneet Kaur, faces charges under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The case was registered on the complaint of advocate Palak Dev, 35, who recounted that what began as a dispute with library staff escalated into a violent confrontation.
“He pulled out a large sword and threatened us. When I tried to move away, he shouted, ‘Today I will kill you all,’” Dev said in her statement.
The incident unfolded around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday when Dev tried to intervene in an argument between Kaur and library staff. According to Dev, Kaur hurled abuses at her, after which Blassi stepped in, allegedly threatening her with the sword. Later, during the hearing of Kaur’s plea before the chief justice—where Bar leaders were also present—both accused allegedly disrupted proceedings with what Dev described as “absurd arguments.”
Outside the courtroom, Dev said, the duo blocked her path, hurled abuses, and issued fresh threats. At that moment, Blassi allegedly swung the sword at her. Advocate Sutikshan Sharma, who tried to shield Dev, was seriously injured on his left arm and ring finger.
“If my colleague had not pulled me back, the sword would have struck my neck,” Dev stated in her complaint.
The two accused were eventually restrained by lawyers and on-duty police personnel, though witnesses said they continued shouting threats even while being overpowered. Dev then dialed 112 for assistance, leading to the registration of the FIR. Sharma was later sent for medical examination.
By Thursday evening, both Kaur and Blassi’s licences were suspended by the Bar council. The association had initially announced a strike on Wednesday in protest against the chief justice’s decision to entertain Kaur’s plea, which had named the Bar’s president and secretary as parties despite her earlier suspension from the body.
The strike disrupted work at the High Court and also spilled over to district courts in Panchkula, where lawyers observed a day’s boycott in solidarity. Litigants from across Punjab and Haryana were left stranded.
PHHCBA secretary Gagandeep Jammu said the strike was called off only after the chief justice assured them that the Bar’s concerns would be safeguarded.
“The chief justice told us that the interests of the Bar are paramount to him. Following that assurance, we decided to resume work,” Jammu noted.
