The Delhi High Court on Friday sent a lawyer to judicial custody for seven days after the court found him guilty of misbehaving with a female lawyer during hearing.
A male lawyer assaulted his female counterpart in the midst of a hearing before the Joint Registrar A.S. Jaichandra. It all started with a war of words between the lawyers, but soon turned ugly and the fight turned physical.
The incident took place before the Joint Registrar (JR) when both the junior counsels were presenting their case. After some objections were raised by the female lawyer, the male counterpart pushed her and in no time it turned into physical fight between the two juniors.
Immediately after the incident, the JR sent a report to Acting Chief Justice A.K. Sikri and Justice Rajiv Shah Endlaw about the incident. The Court taking sou moto cognizance of JR report barred the male lawyer from practicing for two months and directed him to provide legal service to fellow inmates during his imprisonment.
Calling the incidence as a professional misconduct, the Court also directed Bar Council to enquire on the matter. Meanwhile, the male lawyer has also been restrained from entering into the High Court and subordinate premises.
When the matter came before Chief Justice, the male lawyer accepted the allegations and apologized for his conduct. He also offered to perform community service.
Later, after the order was passed, a group of lawyers approached the court and sought modification of the order saying both the lawyers are young and are at the threshold of their career.
To this, court asked them to resolve the matter and inform the court in writing.