Today, On 19th September, The Punjab and Haryana High Court has initiated a suo motu case after a lawyer waved a sword in court and assaulted Bar members. The High Court directed the Chandigarh Police to file a response in the matter.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court initiated a suo motu case today in response to a recent incident where a lawyer waved a sword within the court premises and assaulted members of the Bar.
Following this event, the Bar Council of Punjab & Haryana suspended the licenses of two lawyers, Ravneet Kaur and Simranjit Singh Blassi, after the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association (PHHCBA) alleged that these individuals had attacked its Secretary and other advocates.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry ordered the registration of a suo motu case based on a representation from the PHHCBA.
The Court directed the Chandigarh Police to respond to the matter.
In the representation, the PHHCBA accused Kaur of instigating Blassi on September 17 to intimidate Bar members and to assault a female lawyer. While a First Information Report (FIR) has been filed against both Kaur and Blassi, only Blassi has been arrested so far.
Earlier, The Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana, in a late-night decision on Wednesday, suspended the licenses of two lawyers following allegations of assault against the Secretary of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association (PHHCBA) and other advocates.
One of the lawyers was reportedly seen carrying a sword inside the court premises.
At an emergency meeting held around 11 PM, the Council’s special disciplinary committee termed the incident a matter of serious misconduct involving advocates Ravneet Kaur and Simranjit Singh Blassi.
The committee further pointed out that Kaur’s license had already been referred to the Bar Council of India under Section 26 of the Advocates Act because of her earlier misconduct and concealment of facts at the time of obtaining the license.
Additionally, notices were issued to both lawyers, and they have been prohibited from appearing before any court or authority in the capacity of advocates.
The PHHCBA requested Kaur’s arrest and also sought the removal of allegedly defamatory content she posted on social media, along with a gag order against her.
Senior Advocate Amit Jhanji, representing the Union Territory of Chandigarh, confirmed that an FIR has been registered.
Jhanji stated,
“We are investigating the matter. Whatever comes out of the investigation, we can place it before the Court,”
Regarding the social media content, Jhanji noted that the platforms involved would need to be included in the case, as they may not comply with police requests due to freedom of speech concerns.
He added,
“Even if the police write, they sometimes don’t take action on ground of freedom of speech and expression,”
PHHCBA President Sartej Singh Narula requested that the police refrain from acting on Blassi’s complaint. Jhanji clarified that only a diary entry (DDR) has been recorded and no formal case has been initiated.
In light of the PHHCBA’s appeal, the Court ordered that no action should be taken against any lawyer based on Blassi’s complaint for the time being. The Court also requested that the social media content be submitted for consideration.
Earlier, On Wednesday, Kaur had brought to the attention of a Division Bench led by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu that her laptop was confiscated by the PHHCBA secretary, Gagandeep Jammu. The Court declined to intervene urgently and advised Kaur to have her case listed for consideration.
However, Justice Nagu encouraged Senior Advocate Jhanji to help resolve the issue.
According to a notice issued later by the PHHCBA, the allegations were unfounded. It claimed that Kaur, accompanied by Blassi, later entered the association office and misbehaved with the secretary and other members. The notice alleged that Blassi was seen carrying a sword around the court premises and attacked the secretary and other Bar members, creating an atmosphere of fear and intimidation.
The notice stated,
“Subsequently, she sought fixing of her matter for tomorrow in CR–1. Despite the objections of nearly 100 members present in court requesting that no such accommodation be granted, her request was allowed. Upon coming out of court, Ms. Ravneet again created a ruckus and, along with Mr. Simranjit Singh Blassi, assaulted members of the Bar. It is further alarming that Mr. Blassi was seen openly roaming in the Court premises with a sword and attacked Secretary and other members of the bar, thereby creating an atmosphere of fear and intimidation. Both were taken away by police officials,”