In New Delhi, the Supreme Court issued a formal notice to the president and secretary of the Janpad Diwani Evam Faujdari Bar association following the reported altercation involving senior advocate Gaurav Bhatia at the Gautam Budh Nagar district court.
Senior advocate Vikas Singh brought up the incident before a three-judge panel led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, alongside justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra. Singh contended that attorneys allegedly behaved rudely and forcibly removed Bhatia’s collar band. Additionally, it was revealed to the panel that a female attorney had also been subjected to mistreatment by her peers.
The female attorney, appearing before the apex court, disclosed that she too had faced similar mistreatment in a separate courtroom during a proceeding. The apex court was informed that attorneys were on strike at the Gautam Budh Nagar district court. Consequently, the bench instructed the district judge of Gautam Budh Nagar to safeguard the CCTV footage of the incident until further directives were issued. Furthermore, the bench requested a comprehensive report on the incident.
The apex court emphasized that attorneys’ strikes adversely impact litigants, who are crucial stakeholders in the judicial process.
After considering the submissions, the Chief Justice instructed the initiation of a suo motu petition concerning the incident that transpired on Wednesday within the district court premises.
“We find no grounds to dismiss the facts presented to the court. Normally, we would demand a formal petition. However, the assault on two members of the SCBA (Supreme Court Bar Association) is grave. Consequently, we instruct the registrar to initiate a suo motu writ petition,” the bench declared.
The apex court also demanded the personal presence of the president and secretary of the bar association.
The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) also denounced the incident involving Bhatia. “The Supreme Court Bar Association acknowledges this egregious misconduct by an attorney within the courtroom and vehemently condemns such unprofessional and unlawful behavior perpetrated by the implicated lawyer, as it tarnishes the reputation of the entire legal community.
The SCBA urged the executive committee of Janpad Dewani and Faujdari Bar Association Gautam Budh Nagar to identify the implicated attorney, issue a formal notice, and take stringent action against them.