In wake of an alleged attack on a lawyer inside Delhi's Tis Hazari court complex, the Supreme Court on Monday held that incidents of violence inside court premises amounted to ‘gunda raj’. Giving a stern rebuke, the CJI observed that violence inside a court room amounts to direct affront to the rule of law.
Emphasising the seriousness of the allegation, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant said, “This kind of ‘gunda raj’ is not acceptable to us. That means its failure of the rule of law.” The matter was brought up before a Bench comprising CJI Kant, and Justices Joymalaya Bagchi and NV Anjaria.
The lawyer who mentioned the matter said the incident took place on February 7 before the court of Additional District Judge Harjit Singh Pal at Tis Hazari Court. “I was appearing on behalf of the accused. The complainant’s advocate with many goons attacked me. Hit me," he said.
He further alleged that the group locked the courtroom door from inside and assaulted him as well as the accused in full view of the presiding judge and others present in the courtroom. “The judge was sitting right there. All members of court were there,” he said.
CJI Kant enquired about whether the incident had been brought to the notice of Delhi High Court Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya.
When the advocate did not indicate that such a step had been taken, CJI Kant directed that the matter should be taken up administratively.
“Write a letter to the CJ and mark me as well. Let High Court CJ take cognizance and action will be on administrative side,” he directed. The advocate responded that he was raising the matter as a member of the Supreme Court Bar Association and claimed that the police was reluctant or "scared" to take action.
The Bench asked the advocate to follow the procedure and update it after approaching the Delhi High Court Chief Justice.
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