HC reprimands behaviour of Counsel who was present in Court and sent illness slip

Read Order: Ram Nath And Ors v. Deputy Director Of Consolidation District Hardoi And Ors LE Staff

Tulip Kanth

Lucknow, August 20, 2021: The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court has disapproved the act of a lawyer who was present in the Court yet sent an illness slip to the Bench. 

“This act of Sri Chandra Has Mishra is deprecated and it is absolutely unacceptable that once a counsel is present in the Court he ought not to have sent an illness slip, such practice cannot be accepted”, noted the Bench of Justice Jaspreet Singh.

The Court had called the lawyer and he was put to a specific query whether he was appearing in the matter. He submitted that he does appear in the matter and he further submitted that though he had come to the Court but as he was having a headache, therefore, he had sent an illness slip.

The Bench opined that if at all the learned counsel for the petitioner was not well, he could himself had stood up and informed the Court rather to have sent an illness slip in the morning and remain in the Court premises throughout the day. This act and conduct of the lawyer did not go well with the Court.

The Bench also mentioned that the counsel remained unapologetic and made submissions to justify his conduct which was not acceptable to the Court.

The High Court did adjourn the matter for a later date. The Bench also clarified that no further adjournment shall be granted to either of the parties and in case the petitioner or his counsel has any difficulty, they can make alternate arrangements.

Deprecating this act in its entirety, the Court added that a copy of this order be forwarded to the Chairman of the Elders Committee of the Oudh Bar Association to inform the Committee how the members of the Bar are behaving and indulging in such unfair practice.