Legal fraternity rises in protest after assault on PUCL’s Dr. Suresh, demands accountability

By A Representative

The National Alliance for Justice, Accountability and Rights (NAJAR), a collective of lawyers, law students and legal professionals associated with the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM), has strongly condemned the violent assault on senior human rights advocate Dr. V. Suresh, National General Secretary of the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), and members of the Arappor Iyakkam during a public hearing on illegal quarrying in Tirunelveli district on November 2.

In a letter addressed to the Chief Minister, Home Minister, Director General of Police, Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, and the State Human Rights Commission, NAJAR termed the attack as “brazen and premeditated,” calling it a “direct assault on the rule of law, the independence of the Bar, and citizens’ right to justice.” The alliance demanded immediate and firm legal action against all those involved, including individuals identified as advocates Vinoth Kumar and Arogiyasamy, who allegedly led the mob that disrupted the hearing and assaulted Dr. Suresh.

According to the statement, the attackers stormed the public hearing and hurled chairs and threats, injuring Dr. Suresh on the head while police personnel failed to intervene. NAJAR called this failure “a dereliction of constitutional duty” and said it reflected an alarming breakdown of institutional accountability. The alliance described the violence as a premeditated attempt by the mining mafia to silence democratic voices exposing corruption and environmental destruction.

NAJAR urged the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry to take disciplinary action against the lawyers involved and to adopt a resolution reaffirming commitment to protect the independence of the legal profession. It also sought the registration of a comprehensive FIR, the formation of a Special Investigation Team monitored by a retired Madras High Court judge, and disciplinary action against police officials who failed to perform their duties.

Calling for immediate protection for Dr. Suresh, Mr. Jayaram, and other members of PUCL and Arappor Iyakkam, NAJAR stressed that the incident was “not an isolated act of hooliganism but a warning to every citizen who dares to speak truth to power.” The letter urged the Tamil Nadu government to uphold constitutional governance and ensure that “violence can never silence the pursuit of justice.”

The statement carried signatures from over 60 advocates, law students, and human rights defenders from across India, including senior advocate Gayatri Singh and PUCL’s organising secretary Vertika Mani.

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