A group of lawyers was released on Saturday (October 10, 2026) after being detained for nearly two hours while staging a protest outside the Supreme Court in New Delhi, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The lawyers, who were taken to the Yamuna Sports Complex, were released following interventions by Supreme Court bar bodies.

The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA) passed resolutions addressed to the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, seeking the immediate release of the detained lawyers.

Follow the updates of the Anti-CEC protests on October 10, 2026.

SCAORA president Devvrat told The Hindu that the association subsequently received a communication from the CJI’s office indicating that the Delhi Police Commissioner had been asked to ensure their immediate release.

“We had gone to meet the CJI in the morning, after which we were informed that he was travelling. Later, we received a communication from his office that the authorities had been spoken to for the release of the lawyers,” he said.

Supreme Court advocate Shashank Singh, who was among those detained, said the lawyers had been protesting peacefully and intended to march towards Mandi House when they were taken away by the police.

“While we were protesting outside the Supreme Court, Delhi Police personnel came and picked us up and took us to the Yamuna Sports Complex, where we were detained for close to two hours. We were protesting peacefully and were planning to march towards Mandi House,” Mr. Singh told The Hindu.

Mr. Devvrat said the association also intended to hold consultations on the larger questions of free speech and the right of lawyers to protest.

“We intend to hold consultations on the issue of free speech, at least the right to protest in front of lawyers’ chambers, workplaces, wherever we want. In a democracy, free speech and the right to protest cannot be curtailed,” he said.

SCBA president Pradeep Rai also thanked the CJI for his intervention. “We are grateful to the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India for his timely intervention and for directing the immediate release of the lawyers. His intervention is deeply appreciated,” he said in a post on X.

Mr. Rai urged the authorities to ensure that such incidents were not repeated and that the “dignity, safety and professional independence” of members of the Bar were respected. Lawyers, he said, must be able to discharge their professional duties “without fear or intimidation”.

CJP’s October 10 protest seeking CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation | Full Coverage

Bar bodies express concern

Several lawyers’ bodies, including the SCBA, SCAORA, the Bombay Lawyers Association and the Lawyers’ Association for Constitution (LAFC), raised concerns over the police action and restrictions on protests in the national capital.

In its resolution, SCAORA said the right to express grievances and assemble peacefully was guaranteed under Article 19 of the Constitution, subject to reasonable restrictions imposed by law. It said any action by the authorities must remain within the bounds of law and should not involve “unnecessary or excessive use of force”.

The association said it was “deeply concerned” over reports of the detention of members of the Bar, including senior and young advocates and women lawyers, from outside the Supreme Court premises. It also flagged allegations that some police personnel were not displaying their badges and expressed concern over the circumstances of the detentions and reports of excessive force against those participating in the protest.

The SCBA, in a separate resolution, expressed “grave concern” over the detentions and condemned the reported use of excessive force by the Delhi Police.

“The Supreme Court Bar Association expresses its grave concern and condemns the reported use of excessive force against and the detention of senior and young advocates, particularly women advocates, who were peacefully protesting in the Supreme Court area today. The Association has been informed that many advocates have been detained,” the resolution said.

The Lawyers’ Association for Constitution (LAFC) also condemned the reported detention of senior and young advocates, including women lawyers and its members, who it said had assembled peacefully in the Supreme Court area. It urged the CJI to intervene with the authorities to secure the safety and liberty of the detained lawyers.

“Lawyers do not lose their constitutional freedoms when they speak in defence of democratic institutions. Any restriction upon a peaceful assembly must have a clear legal basis and must remain necessary, proportionate and respectful of human dignity,” the association said.