New Delhi: More than 120 advocates practicing at the Bombay High Court on Thursday (July 23) have issued a statement condemning the prohibitory orders issued by the Commissioner of Police, Mumbai. This comes amid similar statements by various other lawyer associations in Delhi and other cities. “We, a group of advocates practicing at the Bombay High Court, deprecate the recent prohibitory orders issued by the Office of the Commissioner of Police and the subsequent actions taken by the Mumbai police to curtail lawful protests by citizens,” they said in a statement.Listing seven points for condemnation, they noted that the Mumbai police justified the arrests and detentions on July 20 – of over 300 citizens, including minors, who had gathered in and around Shivaji Park for peaceful protests – saying no permission has been given.“Freedom to assemble peaceably and without arms is a fundamental right of citizens under Article 19(1)(b) of the Constitution of India. This freedom is rendered meaningless if under the guise of ‘regulation’ and ‘reasonable restrictions’, all protests are prohibited,” they said.The lawyers condemned the prohibitory orders, ostensibly in exercise of powers under the Maharashtra Police Act, 1951, issued on July 3, and put in place from July 7 to July 21, saying it was given “no visibility or publication.”They noted that constitutional courts have repeatedly held that such prohibitory orders must refer to the relevant facts and record the reasons that warrant a restriction of fundamental rights.“The prohibitory orders issued by the Office of the Commissioner of Police, Mumbai record that peaceful assembly by citizens could endanger lives or public property. It provides no facts in support of this conclusion. The prohibitory orders merely cryptically refer to information received from “various sources”. There appears to have been no independent inquiry or verification to establish the veracity of this information. On the face of it, these orders fail to comply with the requirements under law,” they stated.“Regrettably, the impunity with which such orders are issued is – amongst other factors – a consequence of the lack of accountability, and the difficulties in immediately obtaining legal redress when disproportionate methods are adopted by law enforcement authorities,” they said, urging the Mumbai Police commissioner to withdraw the orders. “It ought not to fall on citizens to seek recourse to already overburdened courts, and spend scarce judicial time to assail orders that are quite plainly on shaky legal footing. We also urge law enforcement authorities to refrain from taking or pursuing action against citizens engaged in peaceful assembly and protest, as is their right,” the lawyers stated. Meanwhile, in Delhi, Supreme Court lawyers gathered for a recitation of the preamble to the constitution earlier today at the Supreme Court lawns. under the banner “Save Democracy, Save Constitution”, in solidarity with the ongoing student and youth protests and the police and authorities’ response in the national capital.The recitation was led by senior advocate Indira Jaising and Dr S Muralidhar. Senior advocate Vikas Singh, President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, was also present.Amid the ongoing protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, Supreme Court lawyers gather for a recitation of the Preamble to the Constitution at the Supreme Court lawns today under the banner, “Save Democracy, Save Constitution.” #SupremeCourt pic.twitter.com/y20kcZmhID— Bar and Bench (@barandbench) July 23, 2026On Wednesday, the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Dr. Vikas Singh, Senior Advocate, wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking a judicial enquiry, detailing the pattern of police excess, including students struck on the head with lathis, unidentified plain-clothed individuals assaulting protesters, tear gas fired at hunger-striking students near Central Secretariat metro station, and journalists and medical personnel obstructed and attacked while performing their duties.The SCBA also issued a separate statement condemning the lathi charge on students and members of the legal fraternity at the protest site.The Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (‘SCAORA’), similarly, issued a statement condemning the use of police force against protesters, calling it “deeply perturbing”, noting that peaceful dissent “is not an act of defiance but an exercise of the fundamental freedoms guaranteed under Articles 19(1)(a) and 19(1)(b) of the Constitution.”