The Allahabad High Court recommended criminal contempt proceedings and FIRs against lawyers accused of courtroom violence. The order underscores concerns over judicial safety, official obstruction and misinformation online.Image used for representational purposes onlyPrayagraj,Nov 2, 2026 22:44 ISTThe Allahabad High Court has recommended the initiation of criminal contempt proceedings and the registration of a first information report against a group of lawyers accused of assaulting an additional government advocate and vandalising a courtroom on October 28, news agency Press Trust of India reported.A bench of Justices Ajay Bhanot and Divesh Chandra Samant said the lawyers appeared to have instigated, planned and carried out violence and vandalism in the court, besides preventing government officials from performing their duties.In its 29-page order, the bench said, "In wake of the preceding discussion, prima facie commission of criminal offences of instigating violence, conspiring to commit violence and perpetrating violence and vandalism in court and preventing the government officials from discharging their duties are disclosed against the aforesaid lawyers."Justice Bhanot, who dictated the order, titled the contempt matter "In Re: Commission of Criminal Contempt and Criminal Offences by Lawyers in Court No.
49 on October 28, 2026". The bench directed that the matter be placed before the Chief Justice for referral to an appropriate bench to initiate criminal contempt proceedings against the lawyers concerned in accordance with the law.
It also requested the Chief Justice to consider directing the High Court's registrar general to ensure that an FIR is registered against them.The court said the registrar general could also be directed to register an FIR against people who published false social media posts about the incident and to ensure that such posts were blocked and deleted. According to PTI, the court said in its October 29 order that the judges were preparing to leave Justice Bhanot's chamber for the courtroom on the morning of October 28 when a private secretary received a call from the bench.
They were told that a group of lawyers had gathered in the courtroom, appeared agitated and were shouting slogans. The judges then proceeded to the court.When the court began its daily proceedings, senior advocate V P Srivastava referred to an October 27, 2026 letter issued by the newly elected office-bearers of the Allahabad High Court Bar Association.
The letter concerned an alleged incident in the court on October 27 in which Srivastava was purportedly humiliated.Srivastava told the court that no such incident had occurred and that the court had never humiliated him. He also said the proceedings had been conducted amicably while the two judges were present.After his statement, other lawyers began mentioning their cases.
The court said lawyers inside and outside the courtroom then started shouting so loudly that it became impossible to continue the day's proceedings.The bench said the group appeared to be trying to provoke an incident. It described the lawyers' gestures as threatening and the uproar as deafening, adding that it was difficult to believe that a constitutional court was facing members of the Bar and not "a riotous mob hell-bent on violence".
The judges then left the courtroom.The court said that after the judges returned to their chambers, Additional Government Advocate-I Paritosh Kumar Malviya ran in and pleaded with them to save his life. He appeared deeply shaken, had a swollen face and was struggling to walk.Malviya told the judges that a group of lawyers had assaulted him inside the courtroom and threatened him for representing the state in matters listed before the bench.
According to the court, he said the lawyers told him that he had to pay the price for defending the state.The court quoted Malviya as saying that he survived because Additional Government Advocate Sandeep Tiwari intervened and some lawyers advised him to run to the judges' chamber to save his life. Malviya also said other additional government advocates and court staff were physically assaulted, the courtroom was vandalised and the judges were abused.
He further told the bench that chairs had been removed from the courtroom before the proceedings began.The court sought a report from the registrar general. It said the report and statements established that several lawyers had abused the court, shouted aggressive slogans, assaulted state law officers and court staff, and committed acts of violence and vandalism in the courtroom on October 28.The bench said the incident originated from the October 27 letter issued by senior advocate C P Upadhyay, the president-elect of the Allahabad High Court Bar Association, and advocate Santosh Kumar Mishra, its general secretary-elect.Calling the contents of the letter misleading, the court said it had arranged seating for an official or any other person called to assist it.
It said a chair was placed at an appropriate location to allow the person to follow the proceedings, understand what assistance the court required and provide it effectively.The High Court has, therefore, sought the Chief Justice's consideration of criminal contempt proceedings and FIRs over the alleged courtroom violence, as well as action against false social media posts linked to the incident.- Ends