Bar-Bench Face-Off: Incomplete Or Twisted Information Can Deepen Differences, Warns Allahabad HC

The Allahabad High Court has cautioned young advocates against focusing on social-media likes, saying incomplete or twisted information about the high court could unnecessarily deepen differences between the Bar and Bench.

The bench of Justice Arun Kumar Singh Deshwal made the observation while hearing a bail application, after noting that certain advocates had allegedly prevented lawyers from arguing their cases and forcibly taken government advocates out of the courtroom.

The ongoing face-off between the Bar and Bench at the high court pertains to an October 27 incident involving Justice Ajay Bhanot, which triggered allegations of mistreatment of an advocate and subsequently escalated into protests by lawyers.

On October 28, Justice Deshwal took serious note of the disruption, describing the conduct of protesting advocates as "absolutely contemptuous", and directed the Registrar (Protocol) to examine CCTV footage and identify those involved for possible disciplinary and contempt proceedings.

On October 29, he also recorded that certain persons claiming to be advocates had prevented lawyers, including government counsel, from entering his courtroom, despite there being no official call from the Bar Association to obstruct court proceedings.

The disruption continued to affect court functioning, prompting Justice Deshwal to make the observations in the present bail matter on October 30.

Justice Deshwal recorded that a lady advocate who wanted to enter the courtroom to attend her case was allegedly misbehaved with and forcibly stopped from entering.

Describing such conduct as detrimental to the reputation and dignity of the Bar and the court, the judge observed that court proceedings could not be stalled merely because a section of advocates did not want the court to function when the majority wanted to argue their cases.

It further described young advocates as the future of the high court and said that judges and senior advocates were making efforts to create a conducive atmosphere for their professional growth.

"Young advocates should concentrate on their studies as well as on preparing their cases to build their careers instead of concentrating on increasing their social media likes. Young advocates are the future of the high court. Most of the judges, as well as senior advocates of this Court are trying their best to create a good atmosphere for the future of young lawyers, who in future will become senior advocates as well as judges of this high court," Justice Deshwal observed.

Court also emphasised that maintaining the dignity of the high court was a shared responsibility of judges and advocates, observing that the respect commanded by advocates in society was rooted in public trust in the institution.

"Advocates of the high court command respect in society only because the public has trust in the high court," Justice Deshwal observed.

Court further warned that erosion of public confidence in the high court could expose advocates to harassment by mafias and unruly public officials.

Against this backdrop, the Court expected the newly elected body of the Bar Association, High Court, Allahabad, to consider the issue and take appropriate steps to maintain the dignity of the high court.

Court recorded that the applicant's counsel could not appear because certain advocates had forcibly stopped him.

In view of the circumstances, the Court adjourned the matter for the day in the interest of justice and directed that the bail application be listed on November 26, 2026.

Case Title: Rajesh v. State of U.P.

Bench: Justice Arun Kumar Singh Deshwal

Order Date: October 30, 2026