It is shocking that counsel wants to address the Court while sitting in a car: Allahabad High Court directs framing of dos and don'ts for lawyers

The Allahabad High Court recently took exception to a lawyer appearing for a virtual hearing from inside his car..A Single Judge Bench of Justice Rahul Chaturvedi said that lawyers must remember that they are appearing before the Court and not sitting in their drawing rooms. The order stated,"It was indeed shocking that the learned counsel for the applicant while sitting in a car, wants to address the Court on the merits of the case.".Justice Chaturvedi also directed the Registrar General of the High Court to frame a set of rules for dos and don'ts for lawyers while addressing courts."The liberty granted by High Court administration must not be misused by the learned counsels. Thus, learned Registrar General, High Court is hereby directed to frame a set of rules for 'do's and don'ts' for the lawyers while addressing the Courts, within the next 48 hours, about their dress-code, ways and the manner by which they would participate in the court proceedings and circulate it through proper notification in the cause list or any other effective mode and the lawyers are requested to strictly adhere to the same," the Court said.It also said that any deviation from the proposed rules and procedures would attract penal consequences..When a bail application was listed before it, the Court declined to hear Advocate Sanjay Kumar Mishra, who appeared from inside his car. On seeing this, Justice Chaturvedi said that the Court "deplores and deprecates such type of non-serious approach by the lawyers."In this regard, the Court highlighted that many courts have already taken exception to such type of practices. However, it noted that lawyers are not attaching any credence to the same. "During lock-down period, which is an extra-ordinary situation in one's lifetime, the administration of the High Court, as an exception has already loosen the regimentation to the Bench and the Bar both. Learned counsels were given liberty to address the Courts while sitting at their workplaces or the chambers or from their places of residence. Nonetheless, they are addressing the Courts, of which certain set of rules, procedures, dress code is prescribed," the Court added..Lawyer appears for virtual hearing in "a stationed car in a casual manner", amounts to disrespecting Court: Madras High Court .While parting with the matter, the Court said,"It is made clear that these rules are being framed only to cope up with the prevailing emergent situation in the law courts and to ease the rigours of formal dress code for the lawyers."Accordingly, the Registrar General was directed to frame and circulate the rules to all the bar associations in the district for their strict adherence..[Read order]