Why Supreme Court imposed ₹1 lakh costs on lawyer

The Supreme Court on Friday rebuked an advocate for citing flimsy grounds to seek the recusal of certain lawyers tasked with hearing complaints pending before the Bar Council of India (BCI) [Charanjeet Singh Chanderpal vs Vasant D Salunkhe and ors].

A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan imposed costs of ₹1 lakh on Advocate Charanjeet Singh Chanderpal after examining an application filed by him in the matter.

"The present application seeking recusal ... on the ground that some of them (lawyers who are examine complaints) are on the Bar Council of India Trust for the national law schools is absolutely scandalous and most frivolous," the Court said.

The costs was directed to be deposited with the Lawyers' Welfare Fund within two weeks.

The matter was connected to a contempt petition filed by Chanderpal against the BCI citing its non-compliance with directions issued in the top court's December 2021 decision in K Anjinappa vs KC Krishna Reddy and anr.

In that ruling, the apex court had, among other things, directed the BCI to dispose of transferred complaints within a year.

Later, in October 2022, the Supreme Court asked the BCI to ensure the swift disposal of such cases as also complaints by litigants against lawyers, to maintain the discipline and purity of the legal profession and to ensure faith is retained in the legal profession and the judiciary.

Advocate Anil Kumar appeared for the petitioner, Advocate Charanjeet Singh Chanderpal, who also appeared in person.