New Delhi, Aug. 12 -- The Supreme Court on Tuesday declared itself the "custodian of all citizens of the country" as it reserved its verdict in a suo motu case examining whether probe agencies can summon lawyers while they are representing clients.

A bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justices K Vinod Chandran and N V Anjaria made the observation while hearing submissions from Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, Attorney General R Venkataramani, senior advocate Sidharth Luthra, and representatives of bar bodies, including the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA).

The court stressed that lawyers must be protected as part of the administration of justice, but cautioned t...