Read Time: 04 minutes
Court took note of the serious and unfounded allegations the petitioner made against various legal professionals, including senior advocates, as well as several judges of the Kanpur Nagar judiciary
The Allahabad High Court recently dismissed a review application slapping a Rs 1 lakh fine on the petitioner for what the court termed as "gross misuse of process of law."
The order, passed by the bench of Justice Neeraj Tiwari, emphasized that the petition lacked merit and contained baseless allegations against senior advocates and judicial officers.
The review application filed by one Randhir Kumar Pandey challenged a previous order dated May 8, 2024, in which the court had granted Pandey a year to vacate a shop he had been renting since before 1950. The shop's landlord, Purushottam Das Maheshwari, had filed a rent case under Section 21(1)(a) of the Uttar Pradesh Urban Building (Regulation of Letting, Rent, and Eviction) Act, 1972, which was decided in his favor back in 2008. This decision was upheld through a series of appeals and petitions, the latest being dismissed by the high court in May 2024.
Pandey, who appeared in person, alleged that his counsel, Senior Advocate D.P. Singh, had acted without his instruction when he requested the court to dispose of the case without contesting it on merits. Pandey claimed that Singh had overstepped his authority by seeking a one-year extension to vacate the shop instead of continuing the legal battle. The court, however, found these claims to be unsupported by any affidavit or evidence, dismissing them as vague and unfounded.
Justice Tiwari also took note of the serious and unfounded allegations Pandey made against various legal professionals, including Senior Advocates D.P. Singh and Atul Dayal, as well as several judges of the Kanpur Nagar judiciary. Court described these allegations as an attempt to malign the reputation of the judiciary and the legal profession.
Despite the seriousness of Pandey's conduct, the court refrained from initiating criminal contempt proceedings against him, citing his advanced age (77 years) and health issues. Instead, the court imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh, to be deposited within 15 days with the High Court's Legal Services Committee. Should Pandey fail to pay the fine, the District Magistrate of Kanpur Nagar has been directed to recover the amount as arrears of land revenue.
Case Title: Randhir Kumar Pandey v. Sri Purushottam Das Maheshwari
Please Login or Register
