The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has stayed the operation of an order passed by the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Jammu Bench, imposing costs of ₹10,000 on Senior Advocate Jahangir Ganai.
A Division Bench of Justices Sanjeev Kumar and MA Chowdhary passed the interim order while hearing the senior advocate’s writ petition against the Tribunal’s order.
The CAT had imposed the costs after recording that Ganai appeared before it during virtual proceedings without wearing uniform and made derogatory remarks against it. The Tribunal had also observed that he appeared to be unapologetic about appearing without uniform.
After hearing counsel for the parties, the High Court observed that “the case for indulgence at this stage is made out.” The Division Bench expressed its intention to mediate and explore an amicable settlement. The Court directed the tribunal members concerned and the petitioners to appear in person before it in chambers on October 21.
“In the meanwhile, there shall be stay of the effect and operation of the impugned order,” the High Court directed.
Senior Advocate UK Jalali, along with Advocates Prachi Sharma, KS Johal, Supreet Singh Johal, Pranav Kohli, Rounak Gupta, Aseem Kumar Sawhney, A.K. Sawhney, Aman Sharma, M Shabab Malik, Harish Singh, Anil Kumar, Simran Shale, Madeeha Latief and Kamil Nazir appeared for Ganai.
Senior Advocate Abhinav Sharma, assisted by Advocate Abhirash Sharma, appeared for respondent Mohd Amin Dar and others.
Additional Advocate General Rajesh Thappa and Advocate Pawan Kundal appeared for the State.
[Read order]