New Delhi: Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant has sought a report from the Andhra Pradesh High Court administration on a controversial courtroom exchange between a judge and an advocate that drew sharp criticism from the legal fraternity.
The judge verbally ordered the advocate to be taken into judicial custody for 24 hours. However, this did not take place following intervention by the High Court Bar, Hindustan Times reported.
The incident happened on Monday when Justice Tarlada Rajasekhar Rao of the Andhra Pradesh High Court was hearing a petition challenging the issuance of a look out circular (LoC) and impounding of a passport.
During the course of the proceedings, the Judge indicated that the Court was inclined to adjourn the matter to obtain a copy of a prior order in a similar case.
There was an escalation when Justice Rao took exception to the conduct of the petitioner’s counsel.
At one point of time, he remarked: remarking: “Have I decided to dismiss your writ petition?… Are you thinking you are a great senior advocate?…you don’t even have 10 years’ standing…Call the police. You go and file appeal.”
The advocate was visibly taken aback by this order and was seen apologising with folded hands, seeking the court’s indulgence
. “Sorry…I am begging for your grace, your Lordships,” the lawyer urged.
The Court, however, went on to record in its order that the counsel had behaved “indolently” and directed the police to take him into custody for 24 hours, even as it asked other advocates present in the courtroom to identify themselves as witnesses to the conduct.
Even as the lawyer apologised repeatedly, the judge directed him to show up before the judicial registrar, adding that the lawyer should next stage a “dharna” along with the Bar against his order.
The direction did not translate into actual custody though after the Bar intervened. The situation de-escalated and the order was not enforced. The matter was adjourned.
The incident triggered a wave of reactions on social media after a video of the proceedings surfaced, with several senior lawyers questioning the manner in which the hearing was conducted.
“This kind of behavior is simply not on. The bar must stand up,” Senior advocate Sanjay Hegde wrote on X, tagging a video of the proceedings.
Senior advocate Karuna Nundy questioned the basis of the direction and posted: “What on earth is this?!! Is there something we are missing, that this lawyer could actually be arrested?? The Bar is due a fuller report. To start with.”
Supreme Court lawyer and BJP national spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill added that “being a judge does not grant anyone the right or license to mistreat, humiliate or misbehave with any lawyer,” stressing that judicial office carries an expectation of dignity in conduct as much as in decisions.
The CJI has sought a report on the circumstances leading to the incident by Wednesday evening.