BCD elections: Rajiv Khosla, 9 other advocates suspended for misbehaving with Justice Talwant Singh, election staff

The Bar Council of Delhi (BCD) has suspended former Delhi High Court Bar Association President (DHCBA) Rajiv Khosla and 9 other advocates for allegedly “manhandling, pushing and abusing” the officials tasked with conducting the BCD elections. 

They have also been restrained from accessing the precincts of the Delhi High Court. 

Apart from Khosla, advocates Shaily Tarar, Aarti Tyagi, Sangita Malhotra, Ramesh Chandra Singh, Anju Dixit, Vaibhav Jain, Jonali Biswas, Prakash Chandra Dwivedi and Shaheen Mansoori have been suspended and show cause notices have been issued to them. 

“You are hereby directed to submit your written reply on receipt of this show- cause notice within ten days and attend the virtual hearing... It is made clear that no request shall be entertained if sent by you on WhatsApp or on e:mail or through electronic mode and ensure you must be present on the above link, failing which matter shall be proceeded ex-parte,” the BCD notice April 26 read. 

The action stems from an incident on April 25 at the Delhi High Court’s S-Block where Khosla and others allegedly misbehaved with Justice Talwant Singh and other members of the Election Committee and counting staff. It was also noted that the advocates used unparliamentary language and heaped abuse at Justice Singh and other members of the Election Committee. 

After the incident, Justice Singh and other members of the election committee – mostly retired Principal District and Sessions Judges – also informed the BCD that “they feel threatened and humiliated having undergone the trauma of unfortunate incident” and that they would not be albe to undertake further counting of votes without proper security. 

The BCD has said that these advocates tarnished the integrity of the High Court precints by their “unruly, rough & abusive behaviour”. 

“The fact that the Hon'ble High Court had graciously given the Bar Council of Delhi the use of the entire 6th floor and 7th floor of S-Block and the same to be held hostage in full public glare portends badly for the Institution as well,” the BCD said.