In a fiery courtroom clash, the Allahabad High Court’s Lucknow Bench has initiated contempt proceedings against Senior Advocate Satish Chandra Mishra for his outburst during a hearing. Mishra’s heated exchange occurred when the Court refused to grant an interim order in his client’s favor, prompting the advocate to shout at the judges and accuse the Bench of bias.
Presiding Justices Brij Raj Singh and Sangeeta Chandra expressed concern over Mishra’s behavior, noting that his actions were not only disruptive but undermined the dignity of the court. The justices remarked, “This conduct of a learned Senior Advocate has a tendency to scandalize and lower the court’s dignity.” As a result, they referred the matter to the Chief Justice for potential criminal contempt proceedings.
The conflict arose during the hearing of a petition related to a tender issued by the Nagar Nigam (Municipal Corporation) in Lucknow. Mishra, representing the petitioner, demanded immediate interim relief despite the Nagar Nigam’s failure to submit required documents, which the Court had ordered for review. The Bench, unwilling to grant the relief without first examining the missing records, scheduled the matter for further hearing the following Monday. However, Mishra insisted that a decision be made on the spot, disregarding the Court’s ruling and escalating the situation by shouting and casting aspersions on the judges.
When asked to present arguments on the merits of the case, Mishra declined, further challenging the Court by stating that it could “dismiss the matter for all he cares.” Despite the justices’ attempt to restore decorum, Mishra continued his accusations, leading the Bench to take a stern stance on his conduct.
The matter now rests with the Chief Justice, as the courtroom drama highlights the tension between senior members of the bar and the judiciary. Whether this fiery episode will culminate in formal contempt charges remains to be seen, but the High Court has made it clear that such outbursts will not be tolerated.