MP High Court Warns Advocate Against Making Unsupported Allegations About Judicial Bias

The Madhya Pradesh High Court recently cautioned an advocate to exercise restraint and responsibility while addressing the Court after he suggested during a bail hearing that accused persons represented by senior advocates were more likely to receive relief. The Court observed that such statements, if unsupported, risk undermining public confidence in the judicial process and the dignity of the institution.

The matter came before Justice Ram Kumar Choubey during the hearing of a bail application filed by Jagdish Varkade under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. During an earlier hearing, counsel for the applicant argued that in similar cases, accused persons represented by senior lawyers had been granted bail, whereas his client, represented by a junior advocate, was being denied similar treatment.

Taking serious note of the submission, the Court had directed the advocate to produce orders supporting his claim. However, when the matter was heard again, the counsel admitted that he neither possessed nor knew of any judicial order where bail had been granted merely because a senior advocate appeared in the matter. He later clarified that his statement was loosely based on another bail order passed by a coordinate Bench and was not intended to question the integrity of the Court.

Justice Choubey observed that the earlier remarks prima facie appeared derogatory to the dignity of the High Court and could amount to contemptuous conduct. Nevertheless, after the advocate tendered an unconditional apology and clarified his intention, the Court decided not to initiate contempt proceedings. The Bench, however, cautioned him to remain mindful of the sanctity of judicial proceedings and to make careful, substantiated submissions in court.