Lawyers' protest against Allahabad High Court judge turns chaotic, furniture flung

A day after the Allahabad High Court Bar Association threatened to boycott the court of Justice Ajay Bhanot over alleged misbehaviour with a lawyer, chaos erupted in the judge's courtroom, with advocates staging a protest and allegedly throwing furniture towards the dais.

The Bar Association on Tuesday alleged that Justice Bhanot had made a lawyer apologise to a Superintendent of Police (SP) for objecting to the officer sitting in a row usually reserved for lawyers.

The Bar Association said that a separate chair was being placed in Justice Bhanot's courtroom for police officers and other high-ranking officials. The lawyer had asked the SP to move further back.

The bar body alleged that the judge threatened to jail the lawyer and also ridiculed another senior counsel.

The association urged the Chief Justice to take cognizance of the alleged ill-treatment of the lawyer, warning that its members would boycott Justice Bhanot's court if no action is taken.

Videos shared from the High Court on Wednesday showed several advocates assembling outside Justice Bhanot's courtroom, where he was sitting with Justice Divesh Chandra Samant.

The lawyers raised slogans and allegedly threw furniture and other items around the courtroom. Reports also claimed that a shoe was thrown at Justice Bhanot. However, Bar & Bench could not independently confirm the claim.