Naresh Chauhan Urges Dialogue Over Disruption, Criticizes Lawyers’ Protest
A day after Shimla was thrown into chaos by a lawyers’ protest that brought traffic to a halt, the state government responded sharply. Naresh Chauhan, Principal Media Advisor to the Chief Minister, said the demonstration was both unexpected and avoidable—especially from members of the legal fraternity, who are seen as upholders of the law.
Speaking to reporters in Shimla on Wednesday, Chauhan pointed out that the protest caused massive inconvenience to the public, with key roads in the city remaining blocked for nearly three to four hours. Commuters were left stranded, daily routines were disrupted, and the already fragile traffic system of the hill town was pushed to its limits.
“Lawyers are expected to uphold the law,” Chauhan said. “When there are open channels for discussion, there is no justification for blocking roads and troubling the public. Such issues can—and should—be resolved through dialogue.”
He expressed surprise that legal professionals, who have deep knowledge of the law and its processes, chose to protest in a way that disrupted public life. According to him, the situation could have been handled more constructively through talks rather than confrontation.
Chauhan also highlighted Shimla’s long-standing traffic issues, noting that congestion has become a daily challenge, especially during the tourist season. The blockade at Chhota Shimla had a ripple effect, severely affecting traffic movement across multiple connecting routes and causing delays throughout the day.
Defending the government’s policy on restricted or sealed roads, he said these rules are in place for a reason. Certain routes—particularly around the Mall Road area—have been kept under controlled access to preserve the city’s heritage character and manage traffic flow in a space-constrained environment.
“The rules are the same for everyone. No group can be given special exemption,” he said, adding that the recent increase in permit fees was not intended as a revenue-generating step but rather as a measure to regulate the number of vehicles on these sensitive roads.
Chauhan further revealed that the Chief Minister had already initiated dialogue with representatives of the legal community and agreed to set up a committee to review their concerns. He questioned why the protest was necessary when discussions were already underway.
“Traffic regulation is the responsibility of the police. Stopping vehicles and blocking roads is not the role of lawyers—or any group,” he noted, adding that the advocates had been invited for talks but chose protest instead.
Meanwhile, the police have taken cognisance of the incident, and a case has been registered. Chauhan confirmed that legal action will follow as per the law.
The issue at the centre of the controversy revolves around access restrictions and permit-related concerns on Shimla’s sealed roads. While the matter is now under review by the proposed committee, the incident has once again sparked a broader debate—about not just traffic rules, but also how disagreements should be addressed in a city already grappling with congestion and limited infrastructure.
