Bar Council Issues Notices To 16 Lawyers in Punjab & Haryana HC Over 'Bench Hunting'

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Bench hunting is an unethical practice where litigants or their counsel aim to have a case heard by a particular judge or bench perceived as favourable to secure a desired outcome
The privilege committee of the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana has issued notices to 16 lawyers over allegations of bench hunting in the high court, considering it a severe threat to the dignity and ethics of the legal profession.
Bench hunting, or forum shopping, is an unethical practice where litigants or their counsel aim to have a case heard by a particular judge or bench perceived as favourable to secure a desired outcome.
Central to the controversy is the high-profile case of Roop Bansal v State of Haryana, a corruption case involving a Gurugram-based realtor and a former special CBI court judge. Certain advocates allegedly engaged in bench hunting to obtain favourable orders in this matter.
The privilege committee has sought responses from several lawyers of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Supreme Court, as well as senior advocates Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Mukul Rohatgi.
'This Committee is of the considered view that it is necessary at this stage to seek responses from Senior Advocates Sh. Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Sh. Mukul Rohatgi, in order to fairly and comprehensively adjudicate the matter at hand," the notice states.
Those named in the notice include senior advocates Rakesh Nehra and Puneet Bali, as well as advocates JK Singla, Sidharth Bhardwaj, Aditya Aggarwal, Gagandeep Singh, Anmol Chandan, Baljeet Beniwal, Harsh Sharma, Sauhard Singh, Rupender Singh, Ankit Yadav, Ashim Singla, Aakash Sharma, Bindu, and APS Shergil. All have been directed to appear before the committee on August 16.
The notice states that, prima facie, Singla orchestrated the plan but suggests it is 'highly unbelievable" that he acted alone, alleging that the effort was organised with ingenious minds possibly pulling strings behind the scenes.
The privilege committee was formed on August 4, 2024, following directions from bar council chairman Rakesh Gupta and is headed by Raj Kumar Chauhan. The committee said documents placed before it allegedly indicate an attempt to manipulate the bench assignment process in the Punjab and Haryana HC.
'The sole objective of placing this matter, suo motu, before the Committee is to uphold the dignity of the legal profession, ensure the maintenance of legal ethics, and discharge the responsibilities entrusted under the law," the notice states.
Citing an Indian Express report titled 'Reassigned case: Chief Justice Nagu hints at 'bench shopping', says bar being destroyed', the committee stressed on the seriousness of the issue, noting that there appears to be 'foul play" by advocates representing Roop Bansal, who may have manipulated procedural rules for convenience and gain.
'In India, common people knock on the doors of the court with the help of noble advocates. Here, Roop Bansal tried to break the door of the court with the help of some ingenious-minded advocates. The matters pertaining to M3M and Roop Bansal, pending before the Hon'ble Punjab & Haryana High Court, need to be watched carefully. The Bar Council cannot remain idle as a mere spectator. It is duty-bound to protect the dignity and ethics of the profession. The Committee must trace out the rotten apples from the basket before all get spoiled," the notice states.
Describing the incident as 'painful and disturbing", the committee observed that certain advocates had allegedly attempted to manipulate bench allocation in a tactful, systematic, and organised manner. The committee said the court is regarded as the temple of justice and that any attempt to subvert it, whether driven by greed or manipulation, must be addressed with utmost seriousness.
Drawing a parallel with the Mahabharata, the committee said: 'We are reminded of the Mahabharata, where the silence of wise men in Duryodhana's court led to the disrobing of Draupadi. This serves as a grim reminder that silence and inaction in the face of injustice enable further injustice."
'Legal ethics are not optional. They are sacred. Upholding the dignity of this noble profession requires moral courage, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to truth," it added.
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punjab and haryana high court
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