Allahabad High Court Asks UP Bar Council: Why Advocate Band, Gavel & Justice Emblem Being Used On Folio To Obtain Certified Copy Of Orders?

The Allahabad High Court in the case Shabnam Zaheer v. Union Of India and Another observed and has issued notice to the Secretary, Uttar Pradesh Bar Council, Prayagraj to show cause as to how Advocate Band, Gavel, and Emblem of justice are being used by Advocates on the application, folio to obtain a certified copy of orders.

The bench comprising of Justice Surya Prakash Kesarwani and Justice Jayant Banerji observed and took exception to this practice while hearing an appeal filed under Section 37 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 preferred by one Appellant, Shabnam Zaheer.

However, when the Court was perusing the case record. The counsel, Pranjal Mehrotra, appearing for the respondent no.2 attracted court’s attention to the fact that the folio for applying a certified copy of the impugned order passed by the District Judge, Ghaziabad which contained the photo of Advocate Band, Gavel, Emblem of justice.

The court noted, while taking into account the same that in the folio, the name of Advocate, Sanjay K. Singh, Enrollment No. Kar3029/01, UP-4173/17, and also mentioned the Chamber No.1115, Civil Court, Raj Nagar, District Ghaziabad.

While taking an exception to this, the court issued a notice to the Uttar Pradesh Bar Council, Prayagrag which was accepted by Advocate Amit Singh, and further, it requested Amrendera Nath Singh, a senior Advocate and an eminent member of Uttar Pradesh Bar Council, to assist the Court on the aforesaid issue.

It was observed that the court directed that a notice be issued to the Secretary, Uttar Pradesh Bar Council, Prayagraj to show cause as to how the aforesaid Advocate Band, Gavel, and Emblem of justice are used on the folio to obtain a certified copy of orders by Advocates.

Accordingly, the court listed the matter as it has now been put up as a fresh case before the appropriate bench on August 16, 2022, at 10:00 A.M.