Yesterday, On 26th October, The Supreme Court has put a stay on the Rs.1 lakh fine imposed by the Allahabad High Court on advocate Mehmood Pracha. The High Court’s decision was based on allegations of “forum shopping” by Pracha and his choice to argue in his lawyer’s robe and band, even though he was a petitioner representing himself. This stay offers temporary relief to Pracha as the Supreme Court reviews the High Court’s reasons for the penalty.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court, On Friday, stayed the Allahabad High Court’s order imposing a Rs.1 lakh cost on advocate Mehmood Pracha for alleged forum shopping and for arguing his case in a lawyer’s robe and band while acting as a petitioner in-person.
A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan issued a limited notice to determine if the High Court’s remarks about Pracha should be removed.
Read Also: Jharkhand HC Fines Union Minister Arjun Munda Rs 1.25 Lakh for “Unrectified Errors”
The Court directed,
“Issue notice for the limited purpose as to why the observations made by the High Court against the petitioner be not expunged and why the order imposing cost be not set aside, returnable on 09.12.2024. Meanwhile, impugned order dated 10.09.2024 to the extent of imposition of cost shall remain stayed,”
Pracha filed a petition in the Allahabad High Court requesting verification of videos related to the electoral process for the Rampur Lok Sabha seat, where he contested as an independent candidate in the 2024 general elections.
These videos were provided to him by the Election Commission of India following his request to the Delhi High Court.
The Allahabad High Court criticized Pracha for what it referred to as “forum shopping” and for his choice of attire, ultimately dismissing his plea and imposing costs. The court remarked that his actions had wasted “precious time” of the judicial system.
However, the Supreme Court intervened today, suspending the cost imposition and advising Pracha to refrain from pursuing the main case in the High Court for the time being. Advocates Tasneem Ahmadi, RHA Sikander, Jatin Bhatt, Sanawar, Kshitij Singh, Mahima Rathi, Pragya Rathi, Nujhat Naseem, and Sadiya Sultan represented Pracha in the Supreme Court.
Read Also: SC Imposes Rs.2 Crore Fine on Sahara Group, Allocates Funds for Wayanad Landslide Relief
Challenging the High Court’s ruling, Pracha appealed to the Supreme Court, seeking a review of both the adverse remarks made against him and the financial penalty imposed. In response, the Supreme Court issued a limited notice, primarily addressing whether the High Court’s remarks should be expunged and whether the penalty could be considered excessive or unwarranted under the circumstances.
The Court’s decision to stay the cost imposition provides temporary relief for Pracha, allowing time for a comprehensive review of the High Court’s rationale. This case highlights ongoing concerns about forum shopping and procedural propriety in India’s judicial system, along with the balance courts must strike in ensuring fairness without imposing undue restrictions on legal representation and decorum.
FOLLOW US FOR MORE LEGAL UPDATES ON YOUTUBE
