The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) on Wednesday condemned the assault on Senior Advocate Gaurav Bhatia earlier today in a Noida court.

Bhatia is a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and earlier served as SCBA's Honorary Secretary. He reportedly had his band snatched inside a district court where lawyers were observing a strike.

The SCBA letter to the local bar association notes,

"Mr. Gaurav Bhatia readily agreed to adjourn the matter and thereafter the matter was duly adjourned...In the presence of District and Sessions Judge a lawyer misbehaved and snatched the band."

The Association said that it 'strongly condemns the unprofessional and illegal act' that has brought 'disrepute to the entire legal fraternity'.

"The Supreme Court Bar Association urges the Executive Committee of Janpad Dewani and Faujdari Bar Association Gautam Budh Nagar to identify the said lawyer, put him to notice and take strict against the concerned lawyer."

[Read letter]