Allahabad High Court Holds Special 7 PM Hearing After Alleged Assault on Women Lawyers at Lucknow Court, Orders Immediate Security Measures
In an extraordinary move underscoring the seriousness of allegations of violence within court premises, the Allahabad High Court convened a special Bench at 7 PM to hear an urgent plea filed by three Delhi-based advocates, including two women lawyers, who alleged that they were assaulted and prevented from appearing before a court at the Lucknow District Court. The rare evening hearing was ordered following directions of the Chief Justice amid concerns that the incident represented a direct attack on the administration of justice.
The petitioners alleged that they had travelled to Lucknow to file a vakalatnama and represent a client in a civil land dispute when they were allegedly assaulted, abused and obstructed by certain advocates, including an office-bearer of the local Bar Association. According to the plea, their client was also allegedly attacked, raising serious concerns over the safety of litigants and advocates appearing before courts. Earlier in the day, one of the women advocates, who is also a practising lawyer before the Supreme Court, brought the matter to the notice of the Chief Justice of India, seeking urgent judicial intervention.
A Division Bench comprising Justice Rajan Roy and Justice Manjive Shukla treated the matter with exceptional urgency and dispensed with procedural requirements such as the filing of a supporting affidavit. Observing that allegations involving obstruction of advocates from discharging their professional duties could not be ignored on technical grounds, the Court remarked that such incidents, if established, would strike at the very foundation of the justice delivery system.
During the hearing, the petitioners produced video recordings purportedly showing the incident. After viewing the footage, the Bench noted that it prima facie appeared that the litigant had been assaulted. The Court also observed that complaints regarding interference with judicial proceedings by advocates or persons claiming to be advocates at the Lucknow District Court had surfaced on previous occasions, indicating the need for stronger institutional safeguards.
Taking immediate corrective measures, the High Court directed the District Judge, Lucknow, and the Police Commissioner to submit detailed reports on the incident by the following morning. The Court further ordered the preservation and production of CCTV footage from the court premises, sought details of the criminal antecedents of the alleged assailants, if any, and directed that the concerned Deputy Commissioner of Police, the Station House Officer of Wazirganj Police Station, and the injured litigant remain present during the next hearing.
The Court also directed that adequate security be ensured for the petitioning advocates and emphasised that lawyers must be able to discharge their professional responsibilities without fear, intimidation or violence. It observed that any attempt to prevent advocates from appearing in court or to intimidate litigants would not merely constitute criminal misconduct but could amount to a grave interference with the administration of justice, warranting strict judicial scrutiny.
The incident has sparked widespread concern within the legal fraternity, with many viewing the High Court’s swift intervention as a strong reaffirmation of judicial independence and the rule of law. The proceedings are expected to shape future measures aimed at strengthening security within court complexes and ensuring that advocates and litigants can access justice in a safe and intimidation-free environment.
