Advocate Maria Nedumpara has alleged mistreatment by Justice Shyam Suman, stating she felt no dignity as a lawyer nor as a woman. She sent a detailed complaint to Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai and Bombay HC Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar.
Advocate Maria Nedumpara, a lawyer, has sent a letter to Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai and Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court Shree Chandrashekhar, detailing significant grievances regarding her treatment during a recent hearing in the Bombay High Court.
In her correspondence, Nedumpara describes an incident from September 29, 2025, related to a case involving an MSME borrower, which was before a division bench led by Justice Shyam Suman.
Her senior, Advocate Mathews J. Nedumpara, was attending the hearing online due to ongoing medical treatment in Cochin.
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Despite multiple requests, the court reportedly refused to unmute him, which hindered his ability to address the court.
Nedumpara claims that the judge repeatedly stated her senior had “offended the court,” without clarifying the alleged offense. While her senior remained muted, Nedumpara attempted to clarify the situation and offered an apology for any possible miscommunication.
In response, “she alleges that the judge reacted with anger, warning her that she would be thrown out of the court and instructing security to remove her.“
Nedumpara expressed in her letter,
“I was taken aback, truly insulted, by the manner in which the Hon’ble Judge addressed me, gesturing for security to take me out. I felt I enjoyed no dignity whatsoever, neither as a lawyer nor as a woman,”
She emphasized that her tone and demeanor remained respectful throughout, with her only aim being to seek clarification on the alleged offense.
Nedumpara pointed out that while lawyers are expected to adhere to strict standards of conduct in court, judges are not held to the same accountability for their actions. She warned that such behavior diminishes the dignity of the legal profession and the authority of the courts.
The junior advocate also noted that this incident is not an isolated case, but rather indicative of a broader culture where junior lawyers and vulnerable litigants often face intimidation or disrespect in court.
She drew attention to minor procedural requirements in courtrooms, such as being asked to adjust one’s posture, suggesting that these practices foster undue subservience rather than professional decorum.
Nedumpara framed her letter as a call for institutional reflection and reform, asserting that junior lawyers, irrespective of their experience or status, deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.
She stated,
“Even the meekest, weakest litigant ought to be treated with dignity. Anything short of that brings disrepute to the institution,”
While acknowledging the potential professional risks of voicing such concerns, Nedumpara expressed her trust in the leadership of the Chief Justice of India, urging the judiciary’s highest office to ensure that such treatment does not become normalized.
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