Jahanvi Agarwal
A notable update emerged as the Supreme Court of India refused to grant relief to a suspended Advocate who caused a stir by throwing a shoe at a Judge during a court session. The Lawyer, previously reprimanded by the Indore High Court, appealed to the Supreme Court for reprieve, but the apex court upheld the High Court’s decision, ordering the lawyer to surrender at Kotwali police station.
The incident transpired in the courtroom of the First District and Sessions Judge on January 22, when the practicing lawyer allegedly hurled a shoe at the presiding judge, leading to immediate suspension and sparking public outcry. Subsequently, the lawyer faced multiple charges, prompting the local police to offer a reward of INR 10,000 for information leading to his arrest as he had fled the scene.
Attempting to evade custody, the lawyer sought relief from the Indore High Court, which directed him to surrender to the local police. Dissatisfied, the lawyer then filed a Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court. However, the Bench, comprising Justices Bela M. Trivedi and Pankaj Mithal, declined to provide interim relief, affirming the High Court’s directive.
In a separate development, cases were registered against the Lawyer’s brothers for allegedly threatening a female Advocate who witnessed the January 22 incident. Despite her complaints, initial inaction from local authorities prompted her to seek judicial intervention, resulting in the registration of a case against the lawyer’s brother.
The present case has drawn significant attention from both the legal community and the general public because of its unique nature and the potential impact it could have on judicial behaviour and accountability. The judiciary’s decision to deny relief to the Advocate highlights the importance of legal professionals maintaining the utmost standards of conduct and respect towards the judiciary, thereby preserving the integrity of legal proceedings.