The Supreme Court of India has taken suo motu action following reports of the alleged manhandling of Senior Advocate Gaurav Bhatia and a female lawyer at the Gautam Budh Nagar district court.
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NEW DELHI: Today(on 21st March), The Supreme Court of India has initiated a Suo motu case concerning the disturbing events that occurred at the Gautam Budh Nagar district court. The Supreme Court acted after hearing about Senior Advocate Gaurav Bhatia and a female lawyer allegedly being mistreated.
The incident, which occurred amidst a lawyers’ strike, prompted Senior Advocate Vikas Singh to bring the matter to the attention of a bench led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud. The Chief Justice, recognizing the severity of the allegations, ordered the immediate registration of a Suo motu petition.
-remarked the bench, which also included Justice J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra.
The Supreme Court has mandated the District Judge of Gautam Budh Nagar to secure the CCTV footage of the incident and to compile a detailed report. This directive emphasizes the court’s approach to ensuring that evidence is preserved and that a thorough investigation is conducted.
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“May the president and secretary of the bar association appear in person,”
-the bench further instructed.
The Supreme Court highlighted this, stating:
“A strike by members of the bar affects the litigants who are vital stakeholders in the justice system.”
This perspective not only addresses the immediate incident but also touches upon the broader consequences of disruptions within legal proceedings.
The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has not remained silent on this issue. It has openly condemned the misconduct, stating:
“The Supreme Court Bar Association takes cognizance of this grievous misconduct by a lawyer present inside the Courtroom and strongly condemns such unprofessional and illegal act undertaken by the concerned advocate as it brings disrepute to the entire legal fraternity.”
Furthermore, the incident has prompted the Bar Council of India to issue notices to the Greater Noida and Ghaziabad bar associations.
During the court proceedings, Advocate Muskan Gupta‘s testimony revealed another victim, recounting her distressing experience of being physically manhandled and forced to leave the courtroom. This incident, in conjunction with the attack on Senior Advocate Bhatia.
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“In repeated judgments, this court has deprecated strikes by bar associations,”
-the court noted, reinforcing its commitment to upholding the principles of justice and professional conduct.
The matter is set for further hearing in April.