वाराणसी।
तहसील सदर वाराणसी में व्याप्त भ्रष्टाचार और अधिवक्ता पर लेखपालों द्वारा किए गए हमले को लेकर अधिवक्ता समाज में गहरा आक्रोश व्याप्त है। इसी क्रम में आज दी सेन्ट्रल बार एसोसिएशन बनारस वाराणसी एवं दी बनारस बार एसोसिएशन वाराणसी की संयुक्त आम सभा आहूत की गई। सभा की अध्यक्षता दी सेन्ट्रल बार एसोसिएशन बनारस वाराणसी के अध्यक्ष मंगलेश कुमार दुबे ने की तथा संचालन दी बनारस बार एसोसिएशन के महामंत्री शशांक कुमार श्रीवास्तव ने किया। आम सभा में दी बनारस बार एसोसिएशन के अध्यक्ष सतीश तिवारी एवं दी सेन्ट्रल बार एसोसिएशन के महामंत्री राजेश कुमार गुप्ता भी उपस्थित रहे।
अधिवक्ता पर हमला और भ्रष्टाचार के आरोप
पुलिस पर भी गंभीर आरोप
आम सभा में पारित प्रस्ताव
आम सभा में सर्वसम्मति से निम्न प्रस्ताव पारित किए गए–
1. लेखपाल कुन्दन सिंह व उसके साथियों की भ्रष्टाचारपूर्ण संपत्तियों की जाँच कराई जाए।
2. दोषी लेखपालों को तत्काल पद से बर्खास्त किया जाए।
3. अधिवक्ता पर हमले के मामले में लेखपालों की गिरफ्तारी सुनिश्चित की जाए।
4. थाना शिवपुर प्रभारी निरीक्षक की भूमिका संदिग्ध पाए जाने पर उन्हें तत्काल निलंबित कर विभागीय जाँच कराई जाए।
नारेबाजी व प्रदर्शन
आज अधिवक्ता टोकन स्ट्राइक कर कलमबंद कर जिलाधिकारी कार्यालय एवं पुलिस आयुक्त कार्यालय के बाहर धरना-प्रदर्शन किया। बता दें कि सुबह से ही अधिवक्ता समाज ने कचहरी परिसर में जोरदार नारेबाजी करते हुए विरोध प्रदर्शन किया। बाद में अधिवक्तागण डीएम पोर्टिको के बाहर एकत्र हुए और भ्रष्टाचार तथा पुलिस प्रशासन के रवैये के खिलाफ जमकर आक्रोश व्यक्त किया। इस दौरान पुलिस बल मौके पर पहुँचा तो अधिवक्ताओं ने उन्हें भी आड़े हाथों लिया और खदेड़ दिया।
वरिष्ठ अधिवक्ताओं की मौजूदगी
प्रदर्शन के दौरान बार काउंसिल ऑफ इंडिया के सदस्य श्रीनाथ त्रिपाठी, वाराणसी बार एसोसिएशन के अध्यक्ष व महामंत्री, वरिष्ठ फौजदारी अधिवक्ता अनुज यादव एवं तहसील बार सदर के पदाधिकारी सहित सैकड़ों अधिवक्ता बड़ी संख्या में मौजूद रहे।
NEWS IN ENGLISH
Lawyers Protest Against Corruption and Attack on Advocate in Sadar Tehsil, Several Resolutions Passed
Varanasi.
Deep anger is widespread among the legal community over the rampant corruption in Sadar Tehsil, Varanasi, and the attack on an advocate by land record officials (Lekhpals). In response, a joint general meeting of The Central Bar Association Banaras Varanasi and The Banaras Bar Association Varanasi was called today. The meeting was presided over by the President of The Central Bar Association Banaras Varanasi, Manglesh Kumar Dubey, and conducted by the General Secretary of The Banaras Bar Association, Shashank Kumar Srivastava. The President of The Banaras Bar Association, Satish Tiwari, and the General Secretary of The Central Bar Association, Rajesh Kumar Gupta, were also present.
Allegations of Attack on an Advocate and Corruption
During the general meeting, the incident of assault and verbal abuse against advocate Rajnath Yadav by Lekhpal Kundan Singh and his associates inside the Sadar Tehsil premises was strongly condemned. The lawyers alleged that the Lekhpals and Kanungo (revenue officers) at Sadar Tehsil demand bribes worth lakhs of rupees to process files. They stated that the failure of the Varanasi District Magistrate to take firm action despite complaints has emboldened the corrupt officials. It was also noted that a video of the incident, which clearly shows the thuggery and criminal act of the Lekhpals, has gone viral on social media, yet no concrete action has been taken against the accused so far.
Serious Allegations Against the Police as Well
The general meeting also leveled serious allegations against the Station House Officer of Shivpur Police Station, accusing him of registering a false case against the advocates based on a fabricated and malicious complaint from the Lekhpals. This was done despite a prior order from the Police Commissioner to not register cross-FIRs without an investigation. The advocates stated that this act reflects the police's wrongful and malicious mindset towards the legal community.
Resolutions Passed in the General Meeting
The following resolutions were unanimously passed in the general meeting:
* An investigation should be conducted into the corrupt assets of Lekhpal Kundan Singh and his associates.
* The guilty Lekhpals should be immediately dismissed from their posts.
* The arrest of the Lekhpals involved in the attack on the advocate should be ensured.
* If the role of the Station House Officer of Shivpur Police Station is found to be suspicious, he should be immediately suspended and a departmental inquiry should be initiated.
* The false case registered against the advocates should be immediately withdrawn.
Chanting Slogans and Protests
Today, the advocates staged a token strike, laying down their pens and staging a sit-in protest outside the District Magistrate's office and the Police Commissioner's office. In the morning, the legal community held a protest with strong sloganeering inside the court premises. Later, the advocates gathered outside the DM's portico and vehemently expressed their anger against the corruption and the attitude of the police administration. When police forces arrived at the scene, the advocates also took them to task and chased them away.
Presence of Senior Advocates
During the protest, a large number of advocates were present, including Bar Council of India member Shrinath Tripathi, the President and General Secretary of the Varanasi Bar Association, senior criminal advocate Anuj Yadav, and officials of the Tehsil Bar Sadar.