The Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana started an investigation into serious allegations of “bench hunting” by some lawyers at the High Court. The issue involves lawyers trying to influence which judge hears their case to get favorable outcomes.
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CHANDIGARH: The Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana has decided to begin an urgent investigation into the serious claims of “bench hunting” at the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
This means that some lawyers are being accused of trying to get their cases heard by specific judges, either to get favorable rulings or to avoid appearing before certain judges.
The Chairman of the Bar Council, Rakesh Gupta, has asked the Privilege Committee of the Council to take quick and strict action on this issue. He wants the Committee to handle the matter on a day-to-day basis and submit their findings or suggestions as soon as possible.
In his official order, Gupta clearly stated:
“The Committee is authorized to adopt all procedures including issuance of notice, recording statement, summoning the record, if any as provided under the Advocates Act, if so required. The said Committee is also authorized to collect all the information, data, record from various agencies including Press, High Court and other sources, if so required.”
He also revealed that some members of the Bar Council had raised concerns after noticing disturbing reports.
According to them:
“That some advocates of Punjab & Haryana High Court in order to get favourable orders from a particular bench or avoiding to appear before that Bench are doing Bench-hunting.”
This kind of action is considered a serious misuse of the rights and powers given to lawyers under the Advocates Act. Gupta emphasized that this cannot be taken lightly because it affects the entire legal profession and the justice system.
He stressed in his order:
“At the same time, it is a responsibility of the Bar Council to maintain dignity, status and reputation of the legal profession. In case the Bar Council does not check any such step, then it will further deteriorate the judicial system and the reputation of the legal profession and at the same time the lawyers’ community will feel frustration.”
Although the official press note from the Bar Council did not name any specific case or incident linked to bench hunting, there has been a major controversy in the past months.
It revolves around a case involving bribery charges against a judicial officer.
This case was filed by a businessman who is also one of the accused. The matter has become more complex because several judges, including the Chief Justice himself, have stepped back (recused) from hearing the case.
In May, Chief Justice Sheel Nagu had removed the case from Justice Mahabir Singh Sindhu, who had already heard the matter extensively and had reserved his judgment. The Chief Justice then took over the case and began hearing it himself.
But after listening to the case for a good amount of time, he also recused himself. He explained that he had dealt with the case earlier in an administrative capacity, which created a conflict. Now, Justice Jasjit Singh Bedi has become the latest judge to step away from the case.
Interestingly, during one of the hearings in May, Chief Justice Nagu openly pointed out possible bench hunting.
He mentioned in the courtroom that:
“A particular lawyer was taken as the filing counsel only to get the case de-listed from a particular judge.”
Since 2023, many well-known senior lawyers have been appearing in this matter, making it even more high-profile and controversial.
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