Justice Kait, along with Justice Manoj Jain, highlighted the lawyer’s “poor vision” and erratic behavior, emphasizing that such conduct is unbecoming of a legal professional.
New Delhi: Today (May 23): The Delhi High Court directed the Bar Council of Delhi to evaluate the fitness of a sexagenarian lawyer, citing “acute behavioural issues” observed during his court appearance. The directive came from a bench led by Justice Suresh Kumar Kait, who noted that the lawyer exhibited signs of frustration and annoyance and had difficulty maintaining proper courtroom decorum.
The court’s decision emerged during the hearing of a criminal contempt reference against the lawyer, who allegedly misbehaved and raised his voice in the court of an additional district judge.
Justice Kait, along with Justice Manoj Jain, highlighted the lawyer’s “poor vision” and erratic behavior, emphasizing that such conduct is unbecoming of a legal professional.
“Being an Advocate by profession, respondent is expected to maintain the dignity of the Court. The manner in which he made submission today before us confirms that he is suffering from acute behavioural issues,” the bench remarked in its May 20 order.
The lawyer, enrolled in 1984, is in his sixties and, according to various medical prescriptions, is undergoing treatment for behavioral issues.
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Given the circumstances, the court refrained from imposing any coercive measures against the lawyer for his conduct in the district court. Instead, they issued a caution, urging him to uphold courtroom decorum in all future appearances.
“We discharge him, albeit, with a word of caution that whenever he appears before any Court in any case or otherwise, he would maintain the decorum of the Court,” the order stated.
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Additionally, the court instructed the Registry to communicate this order to the Bar Council of Delhi. The Bar Council has been tasked with directing the lawyer to appear before them for an assessment to determine his suitability to continue practicing law.
Case Title: COURT ON ITS OWN MOTION v. RANJEET SINGH MALHOTRA
