Bar Council of India Raises Alarm After Brutal Attack on Senior Advocate Y.R. Sadashiva Reddy: “This Is a War Against Justice Itself”
(Judicial Quest News Network)
New Delhi, April 18, 2025 — In an unprecedented and urgent appeal to the nation, the Bar Council of India (BCI) has issued a grave public statement following a vicious and nearly fatal attack on Senior Advocate and BCI Co-Chairman Shri Y.R. Sadashiva Reddy, who is also a member of the Karnataka State Bar Council. The incident has sent shockwaves through the legal fraternity, prompting the BCI to declare that “the very foundation of justice is now under attack.”
The assault occurred in broad daylight on April 16, 2025, right inside Advocate Reddy’s professional chambers in Bengaluru. Two unidentified men stormed into his office, armed with iron rods, and launched a violent and targeted attack in the presence of his junior advocate. The assailants inflicted multiple grievous injuries, including fractures to his right forearm, left elbow, and leg — injuries clearly aimed to maim and silence a towering figure of legal integrity.
“This was not random. This was a message,” the Bar Council stated. “A message that those who dare to enforce legal and ethical standards in this country will be met with iron rods and bloodshed.”
Premeditated Violence Rooted in Vendetta
According to the FIR filed by Mr. Reddy, the attack stemmed from a long-settled, baseless complaint by a woman — a matter dismissed nearly two years ago by the Karnataka State Bar Council after due process. The attackers, it appears, were acting out of personal vendetta, possibly incited by elements who resist the Bar Council’s efforts to regulate and cleanse the legal profession.
The Bar Council has condemned the attack as a dangerous symptom of the rising lawlessness and growing threats faced by advocates across the country. “This wasn’t just an assault on a man. It was an assault on the very soul of legal advocacy,” the Council declared.
A Pattern of Threats and a National Crisis
The attack on Mr.Reddy is not an isolated incident. The BCI warns of a disturbing national trend — a wave of daily threats, harassment, and physical intimidation faced by lawyers involved in sensitive legal matters, including criminal, civil, and public interest litigation.
Lawyers from various parts of India have reported that rogue elements are deliberately targeting them, interfering with their work, and using violence to undermine the authority of Bar Councils and the justice system.
“This has gone beyond personal disputes,” the statement reads. “This is an organized assault on the legal system’s ability to function independently, ethically, and without fear.”
Demands and Call to Action: No More Silence
The Bar Council of India has now issued an urgent five-point charter of demands, calling for immediate and decisive government intervention:
- Full Security for Advocates Under Threat: Advocates across the country, regardless of their status, must be given security — at home, at work, and in court — once a threat is reported.
- Swift Arrest and Interrogation: The assailants involved in the attack on Mr. Reddy must be arrested without delay, and their motives, networks, and potential political or financial backers investigated under stringent laws.
- Court Complexes as Sensitive Zones: All Bar Council and court premises must be treated as sensitive institutional zones, complete with round-the-clock security, CCTV surveillance, and emergency panic systems.
- Emergency Advocate Protection System: The Ministry of Law and Justice must launch a centralized emergency response platform for advocates facing threats — enabling real-time support without red tape.
- National Task Force Against Threats to Legal Professionals: A high-powered task force involving the Home Ministry, Law Ministry, State DGPs, and Bar Councils must be created to investigate and dismantle violent networks targeting advocates.
The Legal Fraternity Speaks with One Voice
The Bar Council has called out the silence and inaction of institutions as a form of complicity, stating that “contempt by silence is as dangerous as the attack itself.” The Council warns that unless strong protection is provided and justice is delivered swiftly, the entire judicial system will be pushed to the brink of collapse.
“This is our final call to the system,” the Bar Council emphasized. “Act now. Protect those who protect the law. Or admit that justice in India now stands on shaking ground.”
The legal fraternity stands united, resolute, and unafraid, determined not to let violence dictate the course of justice. But they demand, and rightfully so, that the State must now act — not with sympathy, but with strength.
