The protesters, including Senior Deputy Mayor Mohinder Singh, Deputy Mayor Harjinder Kaur and three councillors Desh Raj Tandon, Ranjana Shahi, Rajinder Kumar, and BJP SC ST president Prabh Dayal, had earlier staged an hour-long dharna outside the Adviser's office and allegedly blocked the gate.

Today, pronouncing the orders in open court, UT Judicial Magistrate (Ist Class) Tejwinder Singh observed: ``an application has been submitted by additional public prosecutor Vijay Singla submitting therein that the accused had been arrested under Section 341/34 of the IPC for staging a dharna in front of the office of the Adviser, Chandigarh Administration. Now the State has taken a decision not to prosecute them.''

He further observed: ``accordingly, it has been prayed that these persons be discharged. Since the prosecution wants to withdraw the case, there is no justification in keeping the accused in custody. Accordingly, they are ordered to be released forthwith.''

Earlier in the day, 11 SAD leaders courted arrest near Old Labour Chowk, in Sector 20, in protest against the arrests.

Meanwhile, the local unit of Shiromani Akali Dal has hailed the release of the leaders. The local BJP president criticised the Adviser for ``fabricating false cases'' against the democratically-elected representatives.

He said that UT Deputy Commissioner had also ordered the release of 12 other BJP-SAD leaders.

While demanding the transfer of UT Adviser Jagdish Sagar, Gupta accused him of helping dissident groups in the party.