Orissa High Court judge refuses to hear matter after discourteous behaviour by counsel

Justice Biswanath Rath of the Orissa High Court this week refused to hear a matter due to discourteous conduct of a counsel appearing before him (Hritika Mitra v. The Registrar, Ravenshaw University)..Justice Rath delisted the matter and requested the same to be placed before a different bench, subject to consent from the Chief Justice..The petitioner in this case sought a direction to Ravenshaw University to accept her original documents and allow her to take admission in the B. Com course for the 2020-21 session. Her name appeared in the merit list. However, she was not allowed to attend online classes on the ground that she had not submitted her documents, even though she had fulfilled all formalities..When the matter was taken up on March 8 this year, a different Bench heard the petitioner’s submissions and issued notice to the opposite parties..While the matter was heard on June 18 before Justice KR Mohapatra, counsel for the University prayed for some time to receive instructions on a freshly served affidavit.The Court then directed that the matter be listed on June 21 after counsel for the petitioner submitted that the internal examinations were scheduled to commence on June 21..When the matter came up for hearing on June 21 before Justice Biswanath Rath, the Court noted that counsel for the petitioner, Advocate B Das was unable to file copies of judgments relied on by him. He was permitted to do the same by the next date of hearing, on the next date. However, the order dated June 22 stated that no such copies reached the Court..Justice Rath observed that at this stage, the counsel became rough to the Court and behaved in a discourteous manner. A miffed Justice Rath stated in his order,"This Court disapproves the manner of conducting the case by the Petitioner and declines to hear such Counsel. This Court, accordingly, directs for delisting the matter and placing the same before some other Bench taking consent of the Hon’ble Chief Justice.".The matter was taken up for final hearing the next day, June 23, by Chief Justice S Muralidhar, who reserved judgment in the matter..[Read Order]