The Delhi High Court, presided by Justice Girish Kathpalia, faced significant disruption today, November 5th, during the hearing of a case involving Advocate Ravi Kumar. The court has subsequently asked Kumar to explain why contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated against him for his repeated interruptions while the court was dictating an order.
The incident occurred during the hearing of Mrs. Shalini Singh v. United Insurance Company Limited and Others, where Kumar represented the petitioner. Justice Kathpalia noted that Kumar’s continuous disruptions forced him to retire to his chambers to complete the dictation of the order. The judge’s order from November 4th highlighted the severity of the interruptions, stating, “The counsel for the petitioner is not permitting me to dictate this order and continues interrupting. As such, the order shall be passed in chamber.”
The case revolves around allegations by Kumar’s client against her former employer, United Insurance Company Limited, involving claims of wrongful removal and misconduct by the company’s HR General Manager. During the proceedings, when questioned about the relevance of certain claims made against the company, including significant legal fees purportedly paid by UIC, Kumar failed to provide clarifications, instead choosing to interrupt the judicial process.
Justice Kathpalia, expressing his concern over the lack of courtroom decorum, has scheduled a hearing for January 9, 2025, where Kumar will be required to justify his behavior. This move by the High Court underlines the judiciary’s commitment to maintaining order and respect during legal proceedings, emphasizing the importance of professional conduct among legal practitioners.
