Allahabad HC Cracks Down on Lawyers for Courtroom Chaos
Allahabad High Court orders identification of lawyers who disrupted proceedings and raised slogans, warning of disciplinary action and contempt.
The Allahabad High Court has taken a stern view of a disruptive incident where advocates engaged in sloganeering and obstructed judicial proceedings within the court premises. In a decisive move to maintain the sanctity of the legal process, the court has ordered the immediate identification of the lawyers involved using CCTV footage.
CCTV Footage to Expose Disruptors
Terming the behavior of the advocates as "contemptuous," a single bench of Justice Arun Kumar Singh Deshwal issued the directive while hearing a bail application for petitioner Devendra Kumar. The court has instructed the Registrar (Protocol) to meticulously examine the footage from cameras installed outside the courtroom to pinpoint exactly who participated in the disturbance.
The Registrar is required to submit a formal report based on these findings. Once the individuals are identified, the court has clarified that the matter will be referred to the Uttar Pradesh Bar Council for strict disciplinary action. Furthermore, the court warned that contempt proceedings could be initiated against the offending lawyers.
The Root of the Conflict
The unrest stems from a controversy that unfolded on Tuesday in Court No. 49. The tension began when a lawyer was warned by the court that he could face imprisonment and was directed to tender an apology to the Superintendent of Police (SP).
This interaction sparked a wave of indignation among the legal community. The Allahabad High Court Bar Association escalated the matter by writing to the Chief Justice, calling for a complete boycott of Court No. 49.
Escalation into Sloganeering
The friction reached a boiling point on Wednesday, when a group of advocates created a commotion inside the court premises. The group raised slogans in connection with the Tuesday incident, leading to the disruption of the judicial process and the subsequent intervention by Justice Deshwal.
The court's insistence on using technology to identify the protesters sends a clear message that disruptions to the judicial machinery will not be tolerated, regardless of the professional status of those involved.