Allahabad High Court: CJ, Governor Skip Bar Association Oath Ceremony

• Chief Justice Arun Bhansali and Telangana Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla skipped the Allahabad High Court Bar Association's oath ceremony.
• The chief returning officer and election committee also boycotted the event, citing inappropriate circumstances.
• These absences followed days of protests by Allahabad High Court lawyers, including vandalism in Justice Ajay Bhanot's courtroom.
• The newly elected bar body had previously called for action against Justice Bhanot over alleged ill-treatment of an advocate.
• Justice Bhanot denied the allegations, and a judicial bench stated the bar association made "false imputation."

These actions highlight a severe breakdown in traditional bar-bench relations in India.

On a recent Tuesday, the oath-taking ceremony for the newly elected office bearers of the Allahabad High Court Bar Association proceeded without the presence of two key dignitaries: Chief Justice Arun Bhansali of the Allahabad High Court and Telangana Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla. Both individuals had been scheduled to attend the event, with Governor Shukla designated as the chief guest and Chief Justice Bhansali as the special guest, according to media reports, including one from the Times of India. The specific reasons behind their unexpected absence from this significant occasion remain undisclosed.

Further underscoring the unusual circumstances surrounding the event, the chief returning officer (CRO) and other members of the election committee also chose to boycott the proceedings. They publicly stated that their attendance would be "neither proper nor desirable in the prevailing circumstances," indicating a deeper underlying tension. This collective decision by prominent figures to skip the Allahabad High Court Bar Association oath ceremony has drawn considerable attention, signaling potential strain in the relationship between the judiciary and the bar.

This notable absence of high-ranking officials and election committee members at the bar association's induction ceremony follows a period of intense unrest and protest among lawyers at the Allahabad High Court. These demonstrations erupted after an incident involving Justice Ajay Bhanot, who was accused of ill-treating an advocate. The controversy surrounding Justice Ajay Bhanot quickly escalated, leading to significant disruption within the court premises.

Days prior to the oath ceremony, the newly elected leadership of the Allahabad High Court Bar Association, spearheaded by President CP Upadhyay and General Secretary Santosh Kumar Mishra, issued a formal statement on October 27. This statement not only called for disciplinary action against Justice Bhanot but also threatened a boycott of his courtroom. The situation deteriorated further just one day after this declaration, when protesting lawyers engaged in acts of vandalism, destroying furniture inside Justice Bhanot's courtroom and physically assaulting both government counsel and court staff. These actions highlight a severe breakdown in traditional bar-bench relations in India.

The protests, characterized by their intensity and duration, persisted for several days, prompting the High Court to intervene through official judicial orders. These orders specifically urged the Bar Association to take decisive measures to uphold the dignity and decorum of the High Court, emphasizing the importance of maintaining order within the judicial system. The court's intervention underscored the gravity of the situation and the need to restore stability.

In response to the allegations leveled against him, Justice Bhanot categorically denied any wrongdoing. Furthermore, a bench comprising Justice Bhanot himself and Justice Divesh Chandra Samant issued a statement asserting that the Bar Association had made "false imputation" in their accusations. This direct contradiction from the bench itself indicates a deep rift and conflicting narratives surrounding the events, leaving the underlying issues unresolved and contributing to the ongoing strain between the judiciary and the legal practitioners.

Lawyers practicing in the Allahabad High Court should monitor the ongoing tensions between the bar and the bench, as the strained relationship and boycott of official ceremonies could impact court proceedings, case management, and the overall administration of justice in this jurisdiction. This situation highlights potential risks to judicial decorum and the functioning of the legal system.

Source: Original reporting via media outlets