Shimla witnessed a significant controversy on Wednesday as lawyers staged a protest that disrupted traffic for three to four hours. Naresh Chauhan, the Principal Advisor (Media) to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, strongly criticized the legal professionals for what he termed an 'unwarranted protest.' Chauhan stated that the lawyers had no authority to stop vehicles or compel the police to issue challans.
Advisor Criticizes Lawyers' Actions
Chauhan emphasized that lawyers are well-versed in the law, yet their actions on Wednesday were illegal. He questioned, 'What power do they have to forcibly stop vehicles, ask for permits, and force police to issue challans?' The police have already registered an FIR against several lawyers who participated in the protest.
Protest Despite Quick Resolution
Chauhan also expressed bewilderment over the scale of the protest, which included slogans against the CM and the government, causing public inconvenience. He noted that the matter was resolved within ten minutes during a meeting with the CM, rendering the protest unnecessary. 'Why did the lawyers resort to demonstrations without first using the channel of dialogue?' he asked.
Lawyers' Counterclaims
The lawyers, however, claimed that they had informed the government about being warned by the police not to use the sealed road without a permit. They argued that they had previously been allowed to use the road without a permit. Chauhan clarified that the police had been instructed to check vehicles on sealed and restricted roads due to complaints of misuse. 'The police have been checking permits on sealed roads without issuing challans. Lawyers also need to have a permit; there can't be any pick and choose,' he added.
Permit Policy Explained
Chauhan further explained that permits are granted only to a limited number of people with proper justification. Many individuals use the road to access their homes or businesses, but not all requests can be accommodated. 'It can't be opened up for just one category of people. The CM made it clear that he would have to open the roads for all if there was undue pressure,' he said.
The incident highlights ongoing tensions between the legal community and the state government over road usage regulations in Shimla.
