Supreme Court Courtroom Chaos: Lucknow University Suspends Two Law Students, Bars Them From Campus
The University has indefinitely suspended the students, expelled them from the hostel and directed them to appear before the Proctor within three working days with their written explanation, failing which further disciplinary action will follow.
Lucknow University Initiates Disciplinary Action Against Students Arrested in Supreme Court Case
The Lucknow University has indefinitely suspended two law students who were arrested by the Delhi Police in connection with the alleged disruption of proceedings inside the Supreme Court earlier this month.
Apart from suspending them, the University has expelled both students from the hostel and prohibited their entry into the university campus pending further disciplinary proceedings.
The action has been taken against Prabal Pratap Singh, a first-semester student of the five-year integrated LL.B. course, and Chander Bhan, also a first-semester student of the same programme.
In an office order issued on July 20, the University said the action was taken after considering FIR No. 108/2026 and the report submitted by the University's Discipline Committee on July 15.
The order records that the two students allegedly acted in a manner "against the dignity of the Supreme Court" during the incident and, pending completion of disciplinary proceedings, have been placed under suspension, removed from the hostel and restrained from entering the University campus.
The University has also directed both students to personally appear before the Office of the Chief Proctor within three working days of receiving the notice and submit their written explanation.
The order states that failure to do so would be treated as if they had nothing to say in their defence, following which final disciplinary proceedings would be initiated against them.
The disciplinary action comes days after the Delhi Police arrested the two students following an incident inside Court No. 13 of the Supreme Court during the hearing of SLP (Crl.) No. 31367/2026, Prabal Pratap & Another v. State of Uttar Pradesh through Commissioner.
According to the FIR registered at Tilak Marg Police Station on the complaint of Supreme Court security personnel, Prabal Pratap Singh, who appeared as a petitioner-in-person, allegedly disrupted judicial proceedings by using abusive and unparliamentary language, throwing papers inside the courtroom and creating disorder during the hearing.
The FIR further alleges that when Supreme Court staff intervened to restore order, the accused used criminal force against security personnel, thereby obstructing a public servant in the discharge of official duties.
The incident unfolded before a Bench led by Justice K.V. Viswanathan. During the hearing, the petitioner identified himself before the Court and, instead of advancing legal submissions, declared, "Mr. Judicial Servant, I order you to order the registration of FIR against ACP Vikas Nagar, Lucknow, and Duplex Technology...because I am the sovereign."
The Bench immediately questioned him, asking, "You are ordering?" and "You are ordering us?" Moments later, the petitioner allegedly threw a bundle of papers towards the Bench, scattering documents across the courtroom.
Security personnel immediately restrained him after he allegedly shouted abusive remarks directed at the Chief Justice of India.
Despite the incident, the Bench declined to initiate contempt proceedings. Dismissing the special leave petition on merits, Justice Viswanathan observed:
"We do not propose to take any action against him. As far as the merits of the case are concerned, we have perused the records. We find no good grounds to interfere with the impugned order. The Special Leave Petition is dismissed."
Subsequently, the Supreme Court administration lodged a complaint, leading to the registration of the FIR and the arrest of both accused by the Delhi Police.
Earlier, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant also reacted to the incident while speaking at an event organised by the All India Senior Advocates Association. Choosing not to escalate the episode, he remarked that young litigants sometimes behave in such a manner but stressed that preserving the dignity of constitutional institutions is a collective responsibility.
The incident also drew strong condemnation from both the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and the Supreme Court Arguing Counsel Association (SCACA), which described the conduct as an attack on the dignity of the institution and called for appropriate measures to safeguard the sanctity of judicial proceedings.