Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Jul 23: A group of advocates of the Supreme Court on Thursday expressed solidarity with the students protesting at Jantar Mantar by assembling on the court lawns to collectively read the Preamble to the Constitution as part of the "Save Democracy, Save Constitution" campaign.
The gathering took place during the lunch break amid the continuing nationwide protests over the alleged NEET examination paper leak and demands for education reforms.
The participants included senior advocates as well as young members of the Supreme Court Bar. The recitation of the Preamble was led by senior advocates Indira Jaising and former Delhi High Court Chief Justice S Muralidhar. Supreme Court Bar Association president Vikas Singh also participated.
Among those present were senior advocates Anjana Prakash, Mahalakshmi Pavani, Nandita Rao, P V Dinesh, Jayant Thakur and advocate Vrinda Grover.
Many lawyers carried the Indian national flag and copies of the Constitution while collectively reaffirming the constitutional values of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity.
The demonstration coincided with the ongoing protests organised by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) and its supporters at Jantar Mantar and other parts of the country, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET paper leak.
Addressing the media, Indira Jaising said the lawyers had gathered to support the students and seek justice for them.
"We are here to stand with the students. We are here to stand on the side of justice. We are here to demand justice for the students. This is not about us. It concerns the rights of students, and it is the duty of lawyers to stand before the Supreme Court and demand justice for them. The role of the Supreme Court is to dispense justice, and that is why we are here," she said.
The gathering also referred to a statement signed by around 650 lawyers, including senior advocates Raju Ramachandran, Chander Uday Singh, Sanjay Hegde, Huzefa Ahmadi, Rebecca M John, Sanjay Parikh, Gopal Sankaranarayanan, Gopal Subramanium, Jayant Bhushan, Shadan Farasat, Warisha Farasat, Navin R Nath, Sumita Hazarika, Sanjay Ghose, Sidharth Luthra, Anand Grover, Amit Anand Tiwari and Manali Singhal.
The signatories unanimously condemned what they described as the use of force by the Delhi Police against peaceful youth protesters at Jantar Mantar on July 20.