Punjab & Haryana High Court Restrains Entry, Suspends License Of Lawyer's Clerk For Talking Loudly On Phone Inside Courtroom

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed its registry to suspend the license of a lawyer's clerk for disturbing the court by talking on phone loudly.

The judge took note of clerk's conduct and directed the Bench Secretary to take custody of his mobile phone.

Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma said, “Taking into consideration his conduct, the Registry is directed to suspend his license and restrain him from entering into any of the Court Rooms.”

The Court sent the matter to the Registrar (Administration), and directed to issue him a notice and after taking his reply, “pass suitable orders.”

The mobile phone so seized be sent with the letter to the Registrar (Administration) who may release it after considering the reply, it added.

The Court was hearing an election petition challenging the Lok Sabha election of former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, who was elected as Member of Parliament from Jalandhar in the 17th Lok Sabha.

The plea filed by a Jalandhar voter stated that Channi had concealed information about the expenditure incurred by him during the election process. "However due to connivance of the election commission officers, no action was taken on the respondent, which clearly shows the malafide intentions of the respondent," the plea stated.

It is alleged that Channi has also concealed information about the expenses incurred by him on social media as well as on paid news. Local newspapers have continuously covered the respondent only and about 90% of their coverage space was given to him and the remaining all other candidates were not even given 10% of the coverage, the petitioner added.

While listing the matter for December 13, the Court directed Advocate Nikhil Ghai appearing for Channi to file reply.

Mr. Nikhil Ghai, Advocate for the Charanjit Singh Channi.