The Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association (PHHCBA) has officially called off its strike following the arrest of lawyer Simranjit Singh Blassi, who was caught on video brandishing a sword and attacking fellow advocates inside the high court premises.

The decision came after a meeting between bar leaders and Chief Justice Sheel Nagu, as well as the registration of a criminal case against Blassi and lawyer Ravneet Kaur.

High Drama at the High Court

The chaos unfolded on Wednesday when Ravneet Kaur, who had earlier been barred by the Bar Association, entered into an argument with the high court library staff.

According to complainant Advocate Palak Dev, Kaur allegedly abused her during the altercation. At that moment, Blassi — dressed in nihang attire and armed with a large sword — began threatening Dev and other advocates.

Dev recalled: “Blassi declared he would kill us all and then launched a deadly attack on me.”

Sword Attack and Injuries

The violent incident escalated outside the courtroom during the hearing of Kaur’s plea. Witnesses stated that Blassi attacked Advocate Palak Dev with his sword, while shouting threats.

Fortunately, Advocate Sutikshan Sharma intervened, pulling Dev to safety. Sharma, however, suffered serious injuries to his left arm and the ring finger of his right hand.

Dev later said that without Sharma’s intervention, the sword could have struck her neck and cost her life.

Police Action and Arrest

Lawyers and on-duty police officers quickly overpowered both Kaur and Blassi, who allegedly continued issuing threats even while restrained.

Following Dev’s complaint, the police registered a case under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Blassi was arrested the same night, while both accused had their law licenses suspended by the bar council.

Bar Association Strike and Resolution

The PHHCBA had announced a strike on Wednesday evening, protesting the chief justice’s decision to allow Kaur’s plea against the Bar body. The strike disrupted legal proceedings, causing hardship for litigants from Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh.

Lawyers in Panchkula district court also joined in solidarity.

However, after Thursday’s meeting with Chief Justice Sheel Nagu, PHHCBA secretary Gagandeep Jammu confirmed the strike had been called off, stating:

“The chief justice assured us that the Bar’s interests remain his priority.”

Key Takeaways

• Lawyer Simranjit Singh Blassi arrested for brandishing a sword and attacking colleagues.

• Advocate Sutikshan Sharma injured while saving fellow lawyer Palak Dev.

• Police case filed under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

• Bar Association strike ends after meeting with Chief Justice Sheel Nagu.

• Licenses of Blassi and Ravneet Kaur suspended following the incident.