The Allahabad High Court has prohibited 6 lawyers from practicing at District Court for allegedly abusing the judicial officer and assaulting lady litigants, who were present during the course of National Lok Adalat on August 13, 2022.

"Considering the seriousness of accusations made against the aforesaid lawyers, we invoke our jurisdiction under Chapter XXIV Rule 11(2) of the Allahabad High Court Rules and prohibit Sri Radha Madhav Sharma, Sri Tarun Varshneya, Sri Viri Singh, Sri Manoj Sharma, Sri Rukendra Saraswat and Sri Umesh from practicing at District Court, Hathras, till the next date fixed in the matter i.e. on 19.10.2022.", the Bench of Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Shiv Shanker Prasad ordered.

An application was filed by Advocate Sudhir Mehrotra, representing the Court, annexing therewith a communication of the concerned Judge reporting an incident in the court premises on August 13, 2022 during the conduct of National Lok Adalat.

It was alleged that during the course of proceeding in the National Lok Adalat 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 had entered the court premises, abused the judicial officer and also assaulted lady litigants, who were present during the course of National Lok Adalat.

The High Court noted, "In the facts of the case we take suo moto cognizance in the matter, as 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."

The High Court directed for issuance of notices to all aforesaid lawyers.

"Let notices be issued calling upon Sri Radha Madhav Sharma, Sri Tarun Varshneya, Sri Viri Singh, Sri Manoj Sharma, Sri Rukendra Saraswat and Sri Umesh as to why they be not punished for committing criminal contempt on account of their unruly act in the court premises on 13.8.2022 during National Lok Adalat while proceedings were going on in Misc. Case No.363 of 2021 (Vikas Kumar Vs. Pooja). The contemnor Umesh Gupta having joined and participated in the unruly act of committing contempt is also given notices to submit response in respect to the incident and his reply in respect of previous incident would be considered while examining his defence in respect of the subsequent incident.", the Court directed.

The matter has been posted to October 19, 2022.

Cause Title- In Re Honble High Court v. Shri Umesh Gupta (Advocate)

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Allahabad High CourtJustice Ashwani Kumar MishraJustice Shiv Shanker Prasad

Ashish Shaji