Townhall Times, New Delhi
Reporter: Bhavika Kalra
It wasn’t just another dry legal seminar at the India International Centre this Friday. Instead, PUCL Delhi pulled together a powerhouse room of 89 people—from retired Chief Justices to law students still in their finals—for a “Lawyers’ Round Table” that felt more like a strategy session for the soul of the country.
The goal? Figure out how the legal community can actually protect communal harmony before things spiral.
The Heavy Hitters
The room had some serious weight. Former Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court, Rajiv Shakdher, and Justice Iqbal Ahmed Ansari (formerly of the Patna High Court), were front and center. They didn’t just give speeches; they talked about the gritty reality of how the judiciary has to be a shield for fundamental rights during sensitive times.
Senior Supreme Court stars like Sanjay Parikh, Sanjay Hegde, Ashok Panda, and N D Pancholi were in the thick of it too. The whole thing was chaired by Parikh and kept on track by T. S. Ahuja, the General Secretary of PUCL Delhi.
Real Talk, Not Just Theory
What made this different was the “no-nonsense” vibe. They weren’t just debating law books; they were talking about the ground reality.
• The Problem: How fake news and social media polarization are tearing at the fabric of neighborhoods.
• The Fix: Lawyers can’t just wait for a court date. They need to be doing “fact-finding” missions and providing immediate legal “first aid” when tensions flare up.
• The Youth: It was refreshing to see 62 younger lawyers and students from UP, Haryana, and MP sitting in. It showed that this isn’t just an “old guard” worry—the next generation is ready to fight for a secular India too.
Action Over Words: The New Legal Cell
The meeting didn’t just end with a handshake. They actually built something: a 15-member Core Group Legal Cell. This is a rapid-response team designed to keep an eye on communal issues and jump in with legal help whenever necessary. Advocate Harsh Kumar Gautam was named the Convenor to lead this charge across state lines.
By the time the coffee cups were empty, the mood was clear: in a country as big and diverse as India, harmony doesn’t just happen by accident. It takes constant work, a bit of guts, and a legal community that refuses to stay on the sidelines.
A full report is coming soon, but the message is already out: the lawyers are watching.
Leave a Reply