BCI Seeks CJI Intervention Over AP HC Advocate’s Custody Order
The communication urged early intervention to restore confidence among advocates, particularly junior members, in the judiciary’s corrective role.
Vijayawada: Chief Justice Surya Kant has sought a report from the Andhra Pradesh High Court over an issue of a judge issuing an oral order to take a young lawyer into judicial custody on Wednesday.
The order was issued by the HC judge on May 4.
A petition was being heard before the judge, Justice Tarlada Rajasekhar Rao, challenging issuance of a Look Out Notice against a litigant and impounding of his passport.
The judge wanted to adjourn the matter in order for him to get a copy of a decision he had passed earlier in a similar case. An exchange of words with the young lawyer took place.
The judge observed that counsel for the petitioner had behaved indolently and the same was witnessed by the counsel.
The court then proceeded to direct the police to take the advocate into custody for 24 hours.
However, with the intervention of the High Court Bar Association, the court cancelled its order to send the young lawyer to judicial custody.
The video clipping of the exchange of words between the judge and the young lawyer, grabbed during the virtual hearing of the case, went viral on social media.
Subsequently, the Supreme Court Bar Association has expressed its deep concern and shock at the incident and claimed that the incident had caused serious concern among the members of the bar across the country and it also deeply disappointed young lawyers.
The association stated that the relationship between the bench and the bar was founded upon mutual respect, dignity, patience and institutional balance. Rule of law being the foundation of the constitutional system would require maintenance of decorum and discipline in court proceedings and also fairness in the exercise of judicial authority, it noted.
The association urged the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to take cognisance of the matter and call for the relevant records and proceedings and consider corrective and administrative measures in the interest of preserving public confidence in the judiciary and for maintaining cordial Bar and Bench relations.
The AP High Court advocates’ association in a letter to the Chief Justice of the AP High Court requested him to constitute a committee with the judges of the High Court and the advocates to improve the Bar and Bench relations.
