The Madhya Pradesh High Court at Jabalpur, while hearing Criminal Appeal No. 14383 of 2024 (Rajhans Bagade and Others vs The State of Madhya Pradesh), took serious note of disparaging remarks made by the counsel for the appellants during court proceedings.
Justice Anuradha Shukla, who was presiding over the matter, recorded in her order that the counsel for the appellants made “disgraceful and contemptuous remarks” against the Court. The advocate reportedly expressed frustration over the pace of the case and criticized the judiciary, stating (as recorded in Hindi):
“इस कोर्ट में 4 घंटे से तमाशा चल रहा है, मैं बैठा देख रहा हूँ। हाईकोर्ट जज दूसरी जगह जाकर कहते है कि नये जज का अपॉइंटमेंट करो लेकिन जजेस का हाल तो देखो, जो दिल्ली में हुआ वह भी देखा जाए। यहाँ पेंडेंसी बढ़ रही है और हमें harass किया जा रहा है। मैं आज शाम को जाकर मोहन यादव को बोलता हूँ। ये केस 20 बार लग चुका है, बड़ी मुश्किल से आज नम्बर आया। मैं अपने केस की बहस यहाँ नही करना चाहता मेरे केस दूसरे बैंच मे भेज दीजिए……….””
English Translation:
“I am watching the drama going on in this court for the last 4 hours. The High Court judge says that appoint a new judge but look at the condition of the judge, what happened in Delhi should also be seen. Here the pendency is increasing and we are being harassed. I will talk to Mr Mohan Yadav this evening. This case has been listed 20 times, with great difficulty my turn came today. I do not want to argue my case here, send my case to another bench……….”
The counsel went on to say that he had already approached senior advocate Mohan Yadav nearly 20 times regarding this case and requested that the matter be transferred to another bench, expressing unwillingness to argue before the present one.
Observing the gravity of the statements, the Court held that such remarks were not only inappropriate but also showed clear contempt towards the institution of the judiciary. Justice Shukla directed that a certified copy of the order be placed before the Hon’ble Chief Justice for his “kind perusal and needful.”
The matter has been adjourned for the time being.
