Allahabad High Court Directs Advocate Who Threatened A Lady Judge To Tender An Apology To Her, Imposes ₹5K Cost

The Allahabad High Court recently directed an advocate, who threatened a lady judge, to tender a written apology to her and also give an undertaking that he would not repeat such conduct in the future. Similar directions have been issued for his client as well.

Essentially, the Advocate (Ramakant Verma) had issued a Section 80 C.P.C. notice to the presiding officer/a lady Judge in the Basti Judgeship demanding compensation, with a threat that in case the compensation is not paid, recourse would be taken by instituting a suit.

The notice was issued by the Advocate at the behest of his client (one Ram Sanvare), who, the Court noted, appeared to be a rustic villager and acted on the advice of his counsel.

Now, they both (contemnor-advocate and his client) were issued a show-cause notice by the High Court (on February 15, 2022) seeking their reply as to why the contempt proceedings may not be initiated against them.

Pursuant to the HC's notice, they both appeared and tendered an unconditional apology before the Bench of Justice Suneet Kumar and Justice Umesh Chandra Sharma on April 5, 2022.

Taking into account their apology, the Court, at the outset, called the conduct of the advocate as unbecoming of a practicing advocate, and thereafter, directed both the contemnors to appear before the presiding officer, Smt. Anju Kanaujia, Additional Principal Judge, Family Court, Basti, and tender to her, a written apology with an undertaking that they would not repeat such conduct in the future.

The Court directed them to tender the apology on or before April 13, 2022.

Further, taking a lenient view, a cost of Rs. 5000/- was imposed upon first contemnor Sri Ramakant Verma, Advocate, to be deposited with the District Legal Services Authority, Basti.

The amount shall have to be deposited by April 20, 2022, and a copy of the receipt thereof shall have to be submitted to the District Judge, Basti, as per the Court's order.

"On failure, the first contemnor, Sri Ramakant Verma, Advocate, shall not be allowed to enter the premises of the District Judgeship, Basti, for the next six months. Additional Principal Judge, Family Court, Basti, shall submit a compliance report through Principal Judge, Family Court, Basti as to whether the contemnors have complied the order. The presence of the contemnors is exempted. The restrain imposed upon the first contemnor, Sri Ramakant Verma, Advocate, not to enter the premises of Judgeship, Basti, is recalled, it shall, however, be subject to compliance of the present order," the Court concluded by directing thus.

The matter has now been posted for May 5, 2022.

Case title - In Re v. Ramakant Verma, Advocate And Another

Click Here To Read/Download Order