The Allahabad High Court has junked a Lawyer's demand of ₹1 crore in legal fees for allegedly being engaged by Law Ministry to file cases in defense of Ex-CJI Dipak Misra.

The Court dismissed the Writ-Petition filed by Advocate Ashok Pandey in this regard.

The division-bench of Justice Rajan Roy and Justice Om Prakash Shukla observed, "There is nothing on record to indicate that the Ministry of Law & Justice, Department of Legal Affairs (Judicial Section), Government of India had ever engaged the petitioner for filing the six cases, referred in the pleadings, therefore, in view of the reasons given in the communication dated 26.7.2024, we find absolutely no reason to grant the reliefs prayed for herein. The writ petition lacks merits and is dismissed."

The Petitioner appeared In-Person while the Respondent was represented by A.S.G.I.

Counsel for the Petitioner had challenged an order issued by the Ministry of Law & Justice, Department of Legal Affairs (Judicial Section), Government of India. A direction was also sought to the concerned opp. parties to pay ₹1 Crore as fee and expenses for 6 cases which he has filed details of which have been mentioned in the pleadings.

The Court took note of the letter issued by the Ministry of Law & Justice, Department of Legal Affairs (Judicial Section), Government of India to the Petitioner-Advocate addressing the demand wherein it stated that the Government of India has an extensive panel of advocates at the Supreme Court of India to represent the government's interests and that the petitioner herein is not included on the panel of the department at the Supreme Court of India.

It was also stated in the communication that the cases for which fee bill amounting to Rs. 1 Crore has been claimed by him, were actually and factually filed on his own volition and, consequently, the Government of India is not liable to defray any expenses incurred by him including fee as claimed.

The Court junked the demand for lack of merit and also rejected prayer for issuance of a certificate under Article 134-A of the Constitution of India made by the Petitioner.

"We have perused the provisions of Article 132, 133 as also 134-A of the Constitution of India. We do not find it to be a fit case for issuance of any such certificate, as, in our opinion, the case does not involve any substantial question of law as to interpretation of the Constitution of India nor does it involve any substantial question of law of general importance. This prayer is accordingly rejected," the Court observed.

The Petition was accordingly dismissed.

Cause Title: Ashok Pandey vs. Union Of Bharat (2025:AHC-LKO:13890-DB)

Click here to read/ download Order





Allahabad High CourtJustice Rajan RoyJustice Om Prakash Shukla

Sheetal Joon