Lawyers in Delhi's district courts will continue their strike on Thursday and Friday, August 28 and 29, 2025, to protest a notification issued by the Lieutenant Governor (LG) that permits police to present evidence virtually from police stations. This extension marks nearly a week of continuous abstention from work by advocates across the capital.

The core of the protest stems from a notification issued on August 13, 2025, by the LG of Delhi, which amends the schedule of designated video conferencing centers under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. The amendment designates all police stations in Delhi as "designated places" for police officers to provide testimony via video conferencing, rather than requiring their physical presence in court. This includes 179 territorial stations, as well as Railway, Metro, Cyber, Crime, and other specialized units.

The legal community has strongly criticized this notification, arguing that it undermines fair trial standards and could compromise the integrity of the judicial process. Lawyers argue that virtual testimony from police stations creates the potential for external prompting of witnesses and reduces transparency. They believe it could affect the rights of the accused and weaken judicial scrutiny.

In response to the LG's notification, the Coordination Committee of All District Courts Bar Associations of Delhi resolved to abstain from work. A circular issued after a meeting at the Tis Hazari Courts Complex on August 23, 2025, stated the decision to "completely abstain from work on 25.08.2025 in all District Courts of Delhi against the arbitrary notification".

The New Delhi Bar Association (NDBA) has also voiced strong opposition. Tarun Rana, secretary of the NDBA, stated that "Since the impugned notification is against the public at large, there shall be a massive demonstration on Friday, i.e., August 29 at noon outside LG House". The aim is to raise public awareness about what lawyers consider an arbitrary decision.

The strike has significantly disrupted court functioning across Delhi, with many proceedings being adjourned. While urgent custody matters are being heard, most trial hearings have been deferred. Reports indicate that court premises have a deserted look, with lawyers either in their chambers or protesting outside.

Several bar associations have termed the notification as against public interest and are staging demonstrations outside court complexes to educate the public. The Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) has called on its members to wear black ribbons while appearing in court as a sign of protest until the notification is withdrawn.

The Bar Council of India (BCI) has also expressed strong concerns and requested the LG to withdraw the notification, emphasizing that all police officials' evidence should be recorded with their physical presence in court. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed before the Delhi High Court challenging the legality of the notification, arguing that it violates Article 21 of the Constitution by allowing prosecution witnesses to depose from their official precincts.

While authorities have assured the bar association of a positive decision regarding the notification, no concrete resolution has been reached. The lawyers have decided to continue their strike until their demands are met.