Call the police: Andhra Pradesh High Court rebukes young lawyer even as he begs for grace with folded hands

The Andhra Pradesh High Court recently threatened to send an advocate to police custody, observing that he had behaved “indolently” before it.

A video of the proceedings before Justice Tarlada Rajasekhar Rao has gone viral on social media and WhatsApp.

The incident happened on Monday when the Court was hearing a petition challenging issuance of a Look Out Notice (LOC) against a litigant and impounding of his passport. The judge had expressed an inclination to adjourn the matter when the exchange happened.

"Have I decided to dismiss your writ petition? Generally what the judges will do, they will follow their own orders. Are you thinking [you] are a great Senior Advocate? Call the police. You go and file appeal," Justice Rao told the advocate representing the petitioner.

In response, the advocate is heard saying that he was he was in pain.

"Sorry... I am begging for your grace, your lordships," he added with folded hands.

The Court, however, said that it was going to adjourn the matter only to get a copy of a decision it had passed earlier in a similar case.

"Counsel for the petitioner has behaved indolently and same has been witnessed by counsel...," the judge said further, while asking other lawyers present in the courtroom to state their names so that it can record them as witnesses in the order.

The Court then proceeded to direct the police to take the advocate into custody for 24 hours.

The counsel, meanwhile, continued to beg for leniency.

"Don't say anything counsel," the Court responded.

It also suggested that the counsel should next stage a dharna along with the Bar body against his order.

It is not clear what the lawyer had said to invite the judge's anger.

Sources told the Bar & Bench that following an intervention of the High Court Bar Association, the Court later cancelled the order to send the lawyer to police custody.

The matter has been adjourned for listing after the upcoming summer vacation, as per the order.