In response to the assault of litigants at the district court, the Allahabad High Court has issued criminal contempt notices to ten advocates, while also barring their entry into the district court premises. This action follows the submission of a report by the district judge concerning the incident.
Barred from Entering Court
Previously, on April 30, the high court had already prohibited two lawyers from accessing the district court premises due to their alleged involvement in the same altercation. The incident occurred on April 29, when several advocates entered the senior division court within the district court premises and purportedly assaulted a litigant.
In delivering its ruling, a bench of Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Mohd Azhar Husain Idrisi emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “The incident in this case must be regarded with the utmost seriousness. The court cannot permit court proceedings to be disrupted to the extent that litigants are violently attacked within the courtroom, forcing the presiding officer to seek refuge in her chambers for safety.”
“The aggressive and violent behavior displayed within the court premises threatens to undermine the entire judicial system. This court cannot idly stand by while such events unfold. A clear and unwavering message must be conveyed to those engaging in such reprehensible conduct that such incidents will not be tolerated and will be met with severe consequences,” the bench asserted.
HC Direction to the Police
Furthermore, the high court called upon the Commissioner of Police, Prayagraj, to ensure the provision of adequate police force as directed by the district judge to facilitate the smooth functioning of the court. Additionally, the Commissioner of Police was instructed to authorize a responsible officer, not below the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police, to ascertain the criminal history of all individuals named in the contempt notices. The court also mandated the disclosure of the status of the investigation or any actions taken in this matter in its order.
