Bar associations across Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh are suspending work today in a show of solidarity with Mansa-based advocate Amninder Singh Mann. Mann faces an FIR under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act for allegedly making casteist remarks against former Punjab State Commission for Scheduled Castes chairman Jasvir Singh Garhi.
Why Bar Associations Are Protesting Over the FIR Against Mansa Advocate
The suspension of work comes as lawyers rally behind Mann, who is accused of making the remarks in July. Garhi, who has since resigned as chairman of the commission, is now a leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The legal community views the FIR as a matter of concern, prompting a coordinated response across the three regions.
The action today follows a similar move a day earlier, when all Bar associations in Punjab observed a suspension of work on Monday in support of Mann. Lawyers at the Mansa district and sub-divisional courts had also suspended work on Friday and Saturday, showing a sustained protest over the case.
Details of the FIR Against the Mansa Advocate
The FIR was registered at the Cyber Crime Police Station in Mansa on August 18. It falls under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, a law designed to protect marginalized communities from discrimination and violence. The allegations stem from remarks Mann reportedly made against Garhi, who previously held a significant official position in the state commission.
To put it plainly, this is a dispute that has escalated from a personal allegation into a broader professional protest. The legal fraternity's decision to suspend work across multiple states signals how seriously they take the registration of such an FIR against one of their own.
Our Take: A Protest That Raises Tough Questions
In our view, this situation highlights a delicate balance. On one hand, lawyers have the right to stand in solidarity with a colleague they believe is being treated unfairly. On the other hand, the SC/ST Act exists to address real and serious harms, and any allegation under it must be taken seriously.
The suspension of work across Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh is a strong statement, but it also disrupts court proceedings and affects ordinary people seeking justice. Readers should watch how this unfolds—whether the FIR is challenged in court, and whether the protest continues. For now, the key takeaway is that this is a dispute between legal professionals with political overtones, and the coming days will likely determine how it is resolved.
