HC awards imprisonment, fine to 15 lawyers
ALLAHABAD: The Allahabad high court on Thursday held 15 lawyers of Sonebhadra and Gorakhpur guilty of obstructing judicial work and criminal contempt. The lawyers were sentenced to simple imprisonment ranging from two to three months and fine ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 was imposed on them.
ALLAHABAD: The Allahabad high court on Thursday held 15 lawyers of Sonebhadra and Gorakhpur guilty of obstructing judicial work and criminal contempt.
The lawyers were sentenced to simple imprisonment ranging from two to three months and fine ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 was imposed on them.
Taking strong cognizance of their act, the high court also banned their entry on court premises for a period of six months. The court also instruct- ed the judges of both the district courts to keep the lawyers under constant watch for a period of two years.
The order was passed by the division bench comprising justices Sudhir Agarwal and Dinesh Gupta while hearing criminal contempt petition against 11 lawyers, including Mahendra Prasad Shukla of Sonebhadra and Bhanupratap Pandey and three other lawyers from Gorakhpur.
The court also ruled that if any of the lawyers held guilty of contempt show any objectionable conduct causing interference in smooth functioning of court, the district judge concerned should immediately report the matter to the high court suo motu. The court has, however, kept the sentence suspended for 60 days granting the lawyers an opportunity to file appeals.
On failing to get a stay on the court order, the lawyers would be required to surrender before the chief judicial magistrate concerned. The court awarded the lawyers of Sonbhadra a simple imprisonment of three months and a fine of Rs 2,000 besides a ban on entry of court premises for a period of six months.
In the case of Bhanupratap Pandey of Gorakhpur, the court awarded simple imprisonment of two months and a fine of Rs 2,000 and added that 20 criminal cases pending against him be decided within six months.
Other four lawyers of Gorakhpur were awarded simple imprisonment of two months besides a fine of Rs 1,000.