The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday initiated a suo motu case over the recent incident of a lawyer roaming with a sword inside the court premises and assaulting Bar members.
Following the incident, Bar Council of Punjab & Haryana had suspended the licenses of two lawyers Ravneet Kaur and Simranjit Singh Blassi after Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association (PHHCBA) alleged that its Secretary and other advocates were assaulted by them.
Today, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry ordered registration of a suo motu case on a representation made by the PHHCBA. The Court asked the Chandigarh Police to file a response in the matter.
In the representation, the PHHCBA alleged that Kaur on September 17 instigated Blassi to intimidate members of the Bar and to attack a woman lawyer. It alleged that though a First Information Report (FIR) stands registered against Blassi and Kaur, only Blassi has been arrested.
It thus prayed for Kaur's arrest and also sought removal of alleged defamatory content posted by her on social media. A gag order was also sought against her.
In response, Senior Advocate Amit Jhanji, who appeared with advocate Abhinav Sood for Union Territory of Chandigarh, confirmed that an FIR has been registered.
"We are investigating the matter. Whatever comes out of the investigation, we can place it before the Court," Jhanji said.
With regard to the social media content, Jhanji said the social media platforms would have to be impleaded in the case. He said the platforms may not directly abide by any police instruction.
"Even if the police write, they sometimes don't take action on ground of freedom of speech and expression," Jhanji added.
PHHCBA President Sartej Singh Narula submitted that the police be asked not to act upon the complaint made by Blassi. Jhanji said only a diary entry (DDR) has been made in this regard and no case has been registered.
Considering the PHHCBA's request, the Court ordered that for now no action shall be taken against any lawyer on the basis of Blassi's complaint. On the social media content, the Court asked that the same be placed on record.
On Wednesday, Kaur had made a mentioning before a Division Bench-led by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu that her laptop had been confiscated by the PHHCBA secretary Gagandeep Jammu.
The Court had declined to urgently intervene in the matter and asked Kaur to get her case listed first. However, Justice Nagu had also urged Senior Advocate Jhanji to get the matter sorted out.
According to a notice issued later by the PHHCBA, the allegations were baseless and Kaur accompanied by Blassi later entered the association office and misbehaved with the secretary and other members. Blassi was also seen roaming in the court premises with a sword and attacked the secretary and other bar members, the notice claimed.
"Subsequently, she sought fixing of her matter for tomorrow in CR–1. Despite the objections of nearly 100 members present in court requesting that no such accommodation be granted, her request was allowed. Upon coming out of court, Ms. Ravneet again created a ruckus and, along with Mr. Simranjit Singh Blassi, assaulted members of the Bar. It is further alarming that Mr. Blassi was seen openly roaming in the Court premises with a sword and attacked Secretary and other members of the bar , thereby creating an atmosphere of fear and intimidation. Both were taken away by police officials," the notice said.