The Allahabad High Court has recently sentenced local lawyer Ashok Pande to 6 months in jail for contempt of court, stemming from a 2021 incident where he appeared before the bench without a lawyer’s robe and his shirt unbuttoned.
Court Finds Conduct “Serious & Repetitive”
In a strong-worded order issued on Thursday, a division bench of Justices Vivek Chaudhary and B.R. Singh stated that “exemplary punishment is warranted” given the gravity of the offense, Pande’s history of contemptuous behavior, and his non-cooperation with the court proceedings.
The court also imposed a fine of ₹2,000. Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional one-month jail term.
Four Weeks To Surrender
The bench has directed Pande to surrender within four weeks before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Lucknow.
In addition, a show-cause notice has been issued, asking Pande why he should not be permanently barred from practicing in the Allahabad High Court, including its Lucknow bench. He has until May 1 to file his response.
Incident Sparked Suo Motu Proceedings
The contempt proceedings were initiated suo motu following an incident on August 18, 2021, when Pande appeared in court in improper attire. When questioned by the judges and asked to leave, he allegedly called the judges “goondas”—a Hindi term for thugs.
Despite being given multiple opportunities to defend himself, Pande did not respond to the charges.
Not His First Offense
The court also took into account Pande’s previous run-ins with the judiciary. Notably, he was banned from entering the Allahabad High Court premises for two years in 2017 due to similar misconduct.
Final Verdict
The bench emphasized that the dignity and decorum of the court must be maintained, especially by officers of the court. The judgment sends a clear signal that repeated defiance and disrespect for the judicial process will not be tolerated.
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