Allahabad High Court prohibits six lawyers from practicing at District Court for 'unruly act'
During the proceedings of National Lok Adalat in August this year at Hathras, the contemnors not only abused the judicial officer but also assaulted lady litigants.
The Allahabad High Court recently prohibited six lawyers from practicing at District Court, Hathras till October 19 for committing criminal contempt on account of their unruly act in the court premises.
Considering the seriousness of accusations made against the aforesaid lawyers, the bench of Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Shiv Shanker Prasad invoked court's jurisdiction under Chapter XXIV Rule 11(2) of the Allahabad High Court Rules.
Allegedly, on August 13, 2022, during the course of proceeding in the National Lok Adalat at Hathras, about 50 lawyers led by Secretary of the Bar Association, Hathras, namely Radha Madhav Sharma with Tarun Varshneya, Viri Singh, Manoj Sharma, Rukendra Saraswat and Umesh Gupta entered the court premises, abused the judicial officer and also assaulted lady litigants, who were present during the course of National Lok Adalat.
On September 27, during the hearing in a contempt case against Advocate Umesh Gupta, the court was informed by the counsel representing the Court, Advocate Sudhir Mehrotra about the incident.
Taking note of the same, court took suo moto cognizance in the matter stating that "it would be difficult for the justice dispensation system to function where lawyers act in such unruly manner so as to not only misbehave with judicial officers but also assault the litigants".
While imposing the prohibition order on their practice, court issued notices to the six lawyers as to why they be not punished for committing criminal contempt on account of their unruly act.
Court also directed that all six lawyers will be present before the Court on October 19, 2022.
Case Title: In Re Honble High Court v. Shri Umesh Gupta (Advocate)