Lawyers boycotted court work in the Pir Panjal valley’s Poonch district on Tuesday (August 19, 2026), after police personnel allegedly searched the vehicle of an Additional Sessions Judge at a checkpoint and showed “disrespect despite him disclosing his identity”.
“The Additional Sessions Judge was travelling towards Poonch and reached Kallar, where his vehicle was stopped by the police. A police officer removed the vehicle’s key and behaved disrespectfully towards the judicial officer,” said a protesting lawyer of the Bar Association Poonch.
The work remained suspended in the Poonch court due to protesting lawyers, who wore black bands as a mark of protest. The Bar associations of Surankote and Mendhar also supported the protest call of the lawyers.
The protesting lawyers demanded “a fair, impartial and time-bound inquiry into the entire episode”. They demanded action against police officials and termed the police action as “an attack on the dignity, independence and authority of the judiciary”.
“We held a meeting in Poonch and drafted a joint resolution. We have asked the Lieutenant Governor to take action. If no action is taken, we will decide on extending protests on Wednesday,” said the lawyers.
Published – August 19, 2026 03:05 am IST
