Prayagraj: Amid the ongoing protests by advocates over the alleged conduct of Justice Ajay Bhanot, a division of Allahabad high court took exception to a group of lawyers allegedly blocking the courtroom’s entry doors and preventing staff from entering through the main gate.In the order dated Nov 4, the court observed that judicial proceedings cannot be allowed to remain paralyzed on account of lawyers deliberately abstaining from their duties.The order was passed by a division bench headed by Justice Bhanot, who has remained at the centre of advocates’ protests since Oct 28. The agitation intensified last week, with advocates allegedly vandalising Courtroom No. 49, where the judge presides.The bench comprising Justice Bhanot and Justice Divesh Chandra Samant recorded that a large number of lawyers gathered outside the courtroom and created noise that impeded court proceedings.The court noted that lawyers prevented court staff from entering the courtroom through the main gate. In view of the situation, the court said it had asked the staff to enter the courtroom through the door meant for the judges.The observations were made while the bench was hearing a criminal writ petition filed by a Farukkhabad resident, Salman Akhtar, challenging an FIR registered against the applicants over allegations of sexual relations on a false promise of marriage, criminal intimidation, rioting, etc. The matter was taken up in the revised call.The court noted that no one appeared on behalf of the petitioners to press the writ petition, although the names of their counsel were shown in the cause list. The additional government advocates (AGAs) were also not present.Taking note of the absence of the AGAs, the court directed the government advocate (GA) to submit a report explaining the cause for their absence in court.The development follows a protest by advocates over an incident on Oct 27 in court no- 49, where Justice Bhanot was presiding over the division bench. The Allahabad High Court Bar Association (HCBA) wrote to Chief Justice on Oct 28, threatening to boycott Justice Bhanot’s court while alleging that he had humiliated an advocate during court proceedings.According to the association’s letter, an advocate had objected to a police officer occupying a particular seat in the courtroom. The HCBA alleged that Justice Bhanot subsequently ordered the advocate to be sent to jail and compelled him to apologize to the officer. The letter warned that if no appropriate action is taken, the HCBA would boycott Justice Bhanot’s court.Against this backdrop, advocates staged a protest on Wednesday. Some lawyers allegedly also broke furniture inside Justice Bhanot’s courtroom.Subsequently, thereafter, a bench of Justice Bhanot and Justice Samant on Nov 2 passed an order finding that the acts of lawyers assaulting state law officers, court staff and security personnel and vandalizing a courtroom were prima facie criminal contempt. The court also requested the Chief Justice to consider issuing directions for the registration of FIRs against the lawyers allegedly involved and persons who circulated false social media posts about the incidents.
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