The Crossbill News Desk
A proposal to install a statue of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar at the Gwalior Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court has triggered a month-long standoff between two groups of lawyers, leading to protests and sit-ins within the court premises.
The conflict escalated earlier this week when a group of lawyers opposing the statue allegedly attempted to block the designated installation site by hoisting the national flag there.
According to a report in The Indian Express, the plan to install the statue was initiated in February when an application was submitted to the court. A committee subsequently reviewed the proposal and approved it, after which the Public Works Department was brought on board and a sculptor was reportedly paid Rs 2 lakh for the work.
In a letter dated April 21, Registrar Yuval Raghuvanshi of the Madhya Pradesh High Court endorsed the initiative, writing, “Since the statue of Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar, who is the maker of the Indian Constitution has already been installed in the Supreme Court of India, therefore, if a few advocates are opposing, we should ignore the same and work to be completed accordingly.”
However, opposition from a section of lawyers led to a review of the decision, and tensions have continued to simmer. The statue was scheduled to be unveiled on May 17, but objections reportedly intensified in recent days.
On Tuesday, the situation reached a flashpoint when opposing lawyers were seen hoisting a national flag at the proposed statue site. Videos circulating online appeared to show a group of male lawyers approaching a raised platform to install the flag, while women in blue saris—associated with Ambedkarite groups—tried to prevent them, and police attempted to mediate. The flag was ultimately hoisted amid chants of "Bharat Mata ki Jai."
Speaking to the newspaper, advocate Vishwajit Ratonia, part of the pro-statue group, downplayed the scale of opposition, claiming only 15–20 lawyers were resisting the move.
“In the temple of justice if Baba Saheb’s state is not installed then whose statue will be installed?” he asked.
Ratonia also accused opponents of shifting their stance, citing changing objections ranging from procedural permissions to questions over jurisdiction.
“The court premises doesn’t belong to the bar association. Its owner is the high court,” he said.
On the other side, Advocate Anil Mishra argued that the location in question was already designated for the national flag.
“Why should an Ambedkar statue be installed? Is this private property?” he asked, adding that if given permission, he could gather majority support to install a statue of Lord Ram.
Mishra also denied that the High Court had formally approved the Ambedkar statue and accused proponents of bringing in external supporters, warning of potential disturbances.
Despite the tensions, Ratonia said he welcomed the national flag’s presence but reiterated the demand for the Ambedkar statue to be installed alongside it.
“There is already a national flag that has been installed. This is the second flag that has been installed. We welcome this,” he said.
The conflict escalated earlier this week when a group of lawyers opposing the statue allegedly attempted to block the designated installation site by hoisting the national flag there.
According to a report in The Indian Express, the plan to install the statue was initiated in February when an application was submitted to the court. A committee subsequently reviewed the proposal and approved it, after which the Public Works Department was brought on board and a sculptor was reportedly paid Rs 2 lakh for the work.
In a letter dated April 21, Registrar Yuval Raghuvanshi of the Madhya Pradesh High Court endorsed the initiative, writing, “Since the statue of Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar, who is the maker of the Indian Constitution has already been installed in the Supreme Court of India, therefore, if a few advocates are opposing, we should ignore the same and work to be completed accordingly.”
However, opposition from a section of lawyers led to a review of the decision, and tensions have continued to simmer. The statue was scheduled to be unveiled on May 17, but objections reportedly intensified in recent days.
On Tuesday, the situation reached a flashpoint when opposing lawyers were seen hoisting a national flag at the proposed statue site. Videos circulating online appeared to show a group of male lawyers approaching a raised platform to install the flag, while women in blue saris—associated with Ambedkarite groups—tried to prevent them, and police attempted to mediate. The flag was ultimately hoisted amid chants of "Bharat Mata ki Jai."
Speaking to the newspaper, advocate Vishwajit Ratonia, part of the pro-statue group, downplayed the scale of opposition, claiming only 15–20 lawyers were resisting the move.
“In the temple of justice if Baba Saheb’s state is not installed then whose statue will be installed?” he asked.
Ratonia also accused opponents of shifting their stance, citing changing objections ranging from procedural permissions to questions over jurisdiction.
“The court premises doesn’t belong to the bar association. Its owner is the high court,” he said.
On the other side, Advocate Anil Mishra argued that the location in question was already designated for the national flag.
“Why should an Ambedkar statue be installed? Is this private property?” he asked, adding that if given permission, he could gather majority support to install a statue of Lord Ram.
Mishra also denied that the High Court had formally approved the Ambedkar statue and accused proponents of bringing in external supporters, warning of potential disturbances.
Despite the tensions, Ratonia said he welcomed the national flag’s presence but reiterated the demand for the Ambedkar statue to be installed alongside it.
“There is already a national flag that has been installed. This is the second flag that has been installed. We welcome this,” he said.
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