Why Did Allahabad HC Prohibit 2 Lawyers From Practising In UP & Entering Prayagraj District Court Premises?

A division bench of Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Mohammad Azhar Husain Idrisi passed this order while acting on a reference sent by the Prayagraj district judge.

Issuing a notice to both the layers — Ram V. Singh and Mohd. Asif — asking them as to why they should not be punished for committing criminal contempt.

The Court also called upon the District Judge, Prayagraj, to submit a report after perusing the CCTV footage, etc., regarding the involvement of other counsels or individuals who, too, the Court said, had committed contempt.

Further, the Court also directed the Commissioner of Police to submit a report on security arrangements in the court premises. He has been asked to ensure that an adequate police force is deployed according to the instructions of the District Judge, Prayagraj so that the incident does not reoccur.

Per the reference sent by the Prayagraj district judge, some advocates entered the senior division court premises and started pressuring the Presiding Officer to take up a particular suit.

Allegedly, the litigants of the aforesaid matter were physically assaulted inside the Court and the Presiding Officer was also ill-treated.

In her order, the Presiding Officer mentioned that the President of the Bar tried to resolve the issue but alleged the two named advocates did not even listen to the President. In fact, the President of the Bar Association thereafter left the Court to save himself.

Thereafter, the crowd, which had come in support of unscrupulous lawyers, came on the dias and physically assaulted two litigants. When they both, tried to enter the chamber to save themselves, the crowd supporting the two advocates entered the chamber of the Presiding Officer and physically assaulted the litigants.

The Presiding Officer had to rush to the chamber of the Chief Judicial Magistrate to save herself. It was much later that the police personnel arrived, and the Presiding Officer could enter her chamber.

Taking note of the entire incident, the High Court, in its order, observed that such instances pose a serious challenge to the very functioning of the judicial system.

“The Presiding Officer has recorded the manner in which the incident has occurred. It has left a serious question mark on the manner in which the court proceedings are being conducted. The reference made by the Presiding Officer shows a complete breakdown of the court proceedings at the instance of lawyers,” the Court added.

Against this backdrop, having found a prima facie allegation of criminal contempt against the Advocates in question, the Court issued them notices seeking their reply as to why they shouldn't punished for committing criminal contempt.

Case title - In Re vs. Ranvijay Singh And Others [CONTEMPT APPLICATION (CRIMINAL) No. - 7 of 2024]

Click here toread/download order