Supreme Court Courtroom Chaos: Two Lucknow University Law Students Arrested After Hearing Disruption
Delhi Police arrested two Lucknow University law students after an alleged disruption inside the Supreme Court during a hearing, following an FIR lodged by Supreme Court security staff
Delhi Police have arrested two Lucknow University law students in connection with the dramatic disruption inside the Supreme Court during the hearing of a petition last week, where one of the accused allegedly hurled papers, used abusive language and obstructed court staff.
The accused have been identified as Prabal Pratap Singh (24), a third-year law student, and Chander Bhan (23), a second-year law student at Lucknow University.
An FIR has been registered at Tilak Marg Police Station based on the complaint of Supreme Court security personnel regarding the incident that occurred on July 10, 2026, inside Court No. 13 during the hearing of SLP (Crl.) No. 31367/2026, Prabal Pratap & Another v. State of Uttar Pradesh through Commissioner.
According to Delhi Police, Prabal Pratap Singh, who was appearing as a petitioner-in-person, deliberately disrupted the judicial proceedings by allegedly using abusive and unparliamentary language, throwing papers inside the courtroom and creating disorder during the hearing.
The FIR further states that when Supreme Court staff intervened to maintain decorum and restrain him, the accused allegedly used criminal force against the complainant, thereby obstructing a public servant in the discharge of official duties.
The incident had unfolded before a Bench led by Justice K.V. Viswanathan, where the petitioner, after addressing the Bench in an aggressive manner, threw documents towards the judges. Security personnel immediately restrained him, while the Bench declined to initiate contempt proceedings, observing that the petitioner appeared to be "very disturbed" and dismissing his special leave petition on merits.
Following the incident, the Supreme Court administration lodged a complaint, leading to the registration of the FIR and the subsequent arrest of both accused by Delhi Police.
The investigation is underway.
Earlier, this week, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has broken his silence on the courtroom uproar in which a petitioner allegedly hurled documents into the air and used derogatory language against him, choosing to downplay the episode even as he stressed the need to safeguard the dignity of constitutional institutions.
Reacting informally to the incident at an event organised by All India Senior Advocates Association, the CJI said young litigants sometimes behave this way, but reminded everyone that protecting the honour of the country's constitutional bodies remains a shared responsibility. "Arey rahne do... Bacchey aise kayi bar kar dete hein lekin mei yeh kehna chahta hu ki hamein constitutional institutions ki maryada maan sammaan banaye rakhna chahiye ye hum sabka daitwa hein sabko isko nibhana hein," CJI Surya Kant said, asking that the matter be let go while urging collective responsibility toward institutional dignity.
SCBA and SCACA strongly condemned the incident
The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) on Friday strongly condemned the incident and urged the Union government to frame guidelines regulating the recording, editing and circulation of courtroom proceedings and videos.
In a statement issued on July 10, the SCBA described the litigant's conduct before the Bench of Justices K.V. Viswanathan and Alok Aradhe as abusive and disrespectful, asserting that any attempt to abuse, threaten or disrupt judicial proceedings strikes at the very foundation of the administration of justice. "The dignity and majesty of the Court must be respected at all times. Any attempt to abuse, threaten or disrupt judicial proceedings is wholly unacceptable and strikes at the very foundation of the administration of justice," the statement said.
Separately, the Supreme Court Arguing Counsel Association (SCACA) also addressed a representation to the Chief Justice of India, condemning the incident and seeking stringent action against all those directly or indirectly involved in what it described as a conspiracy to undermine the judiciary. The Association alleged that selective circulation of courtroom clips and defamatory commentary on social media had become a recurring trend that threatened public confidence in the judicial institution.
Background of the case
The Bench was hearing a petition filed by Prabal Pratap, who was challenging an Allahabad High Court order refusing to interfere with a trial court's decision to treat his application under Section 173(4) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) as a private complaint.
At the outset, the petitioner identified himself before the Bench and, instead of making 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 the petitioner, asking, "You are ordering?" and "You are ordering us?"
The petitioner continued his submissions before suddenly throwing a bundle of papers towards the Bench, scattering documents across the courtroom. Security personnel immediately intervened and restrained him as he shouted an abusive remark directed at the Chief Justice of India.
Despite the incident, the Bench declined to initiate any coercive or contempt proceedings. Pronouncing the order, Justice K.V. 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."