Prayagraj Lawyers Erupt in Protest After Demolition of Chambers: A Grim Reminder of Government Apathy Towards Judiciary Infrastructure
By BK Singh
In a dramatic escalation of tensions between the legal community and local authorities, hundreds of lawyers in Prayagraj were left without shelter or workspace after the Prayagraj Municipal Corporation (PMC) demolished over 150 makeshift chambers in an early morning anti-encroachment drive on Wednesday.
The move, carried out with military-like precision just after sunrise, sparked widespread protests, road blockades, and clashes that paralyzed the area around the district collectorate.
The now-demolished structures, constructed with iron frames, served as the only functional workspace for hundreds of practicing advocates, many of whom have long raised concerns about the dire lack of judicial infrastructure in one of the country’s most significant legal districts.
“We Work in Inhuman Conditions”: Lawyers Speak Out
For years, the district court lawyers had been operating in cramped, makeshift chambers, exposed to the elements and forced to carry out their professional responsibilities without even basic amenities.
These unauthorized chambers, though technically encroachments, were born out of necessity, not luxury — a reflection of the State’s consistent neglect of judiciary infrastructure.
“We are not encroachers. We are officers of the court. If the government cannot provide us with proper chambers, what choice do we have but to build temporary shelters under the open sky?” asked a visibly angry senior lawyer protesting at the site. “This demolition was not just of our structures, but of our dignity.”
Bulldozers Before Dawn: A Move Without Warning
Although the PMC had reportedly pasted eviction notices in advance, many lawyers claim they were unaware of the exact timing of the drive. By the time most reached the site, the structures had already been flattened. The early morning operation, accompanied by heavy police deployment and bulldozers, was planned to preempt any resistance.
Adding insult to injury, the demolition took place in extreme summer conditions, with temperatures soaring past 40°C. “We were working under tarpaulins and iron sheds in this scorching heat, and even those have been taken away,” said a young advocate who had just begun her career in Prayagraj.
Protests Turn Fiery
The demolition drive triggered massive outrage among the legal fraternity. Enraged lawyers gathered in large numbers in front of the Collectorate, demanding immediate redressal. As emotions boiled over, protesters set fire to remnants of the demolished chambers, hurled stones at Municipal Corporation vehicles, and staged road blockades.
The situation deteriorated so rapidly that the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and senior police officials had to be deployed to prevent further escalation.
The gates of the Prayagraj Municipal Corporation office on Nawab Yusuf Road were locked, and entry was restricted due to the volatile situation.
Judiciary’s Needs Consistently Ignored
This episode exposes a glaring disconnect between government priorities and the real needs of the judiciary. While massive budgets are earmarked for urban development and administrative buildings, lawyers, who are central to the justice delivery system, are often left struggling for basic workspaces.
“We are not asking for palaces,” said one member of the District Bar Association. “We are only asking for shelter — a dignified, functional space to serve justice. If the state fails to provide that, who is responsible for the delay and dysfunction in the justice system?”
A Glimmer of Hope?
Following the unrest, a meeting was convened between past and present office bearers of the Bar Association and the District Magistrate.
A tentative proposal was floated to construct permanent chambers for the affected lawyers on a vacant plot of land across the road, near the police office. However, no official timeline or commitment has been made public.
Until then, hundreds of lawyers remain without any workspace — a tragic reflection of a system that demands legal excellence but fails to even provide the space for it.
