Allahabad High Court Orders CCTV Check To Identify Advocates Protesting Over Justice Bhanot Incident

The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday directed its Registrar (Protocol) to examine CCTV footage and identify advocates who allegedly raised slogans and disrupted court proceedings in protest over an incident involving Justice Ajay Bhanot, after observing that such conduct was “absolutely contemptuous”.

Justice Arun Kumar Singh Deshwal passed the order while hearing a bail application in Court No. 66. Court directed the Registrar (Protocol) to submit a report by the next date of listing after identifying the advocates involved.

Court also said the matter could be referred to the Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh for disciplinary proceedings and contempt proceedings against them.

The order came amid protests by advocates over an October 27 incident in Court No. 49 concerning the dignity of an advocate, which prompted the Allahabad High Court Bar Association to write to the Chief Justice alleging inappropriate conduct by Justice Bhanot and warning that it would boycott his court if appropriate action was not taken.

According to Justice Deshwal's order, advocates began raising their voices in the corridor outside Court No. 66 during the hearing and commenting on the proceedings.

Advocate Mannu Sharma informed the court that some advocates were protesting over the incident in Court No. 49 and raising slogans in the corridor.

Justice Deshwal observed that litigants approached the high court to seek redressal of their grievances and that advocates could not be permitted to disturb proceedings in other courts because of their differences with a particular court.

“Such incident amounts to interference the court proceedings as poor litigants come to the high court for redressal of their grievance,” court said.

The judge added that raising slogans, shouting and using words that could intimidate the court was wholly unjustified.

The underlying bail application, filed by Devendra Kumar against the State of Uttar Pradesh, was adjourned after the applicant’s counsel sought time to place on record witness statements recorded during the trial in compliance with an earlier order dated October 5, 2026.

The matter has been listed for November 19, 2026.

Background: Bar Association’s complaint against Justice Bhanot

The order follows tensions at the Allahabad High Court after the Bar Association raised concerns over an incident during proceedings before Justice Bhanot on October 27.

In a letter to the Chief Justice, the association alleged that an advocate was humiliated during a court proceeding following a dispute over seating arrangements involving a police officer. It alleged that Justice Bhanot directed the advocate to apologise to the police officer and threatened to send him to jail.

The association described the alleged conduct as inappropriate and sought appropriate action. It warned that it would boycott Justice Bhanot’s court if action was not taken on its complaint.

Case Title: Devendra Kumar v. State of Uttar Pradesh

Order Date: October 28, 2026

Bench: Justice Arun Kumar Singh Deshwal