The Delhi High Court has intervened to pause the suspension of Rajiv Khosla, the former President of the Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA), along with three other advocates from the Bar Council of Delhi (BCD). This decision follows allegations of misconduct involving the ‘manhandling, pushing, and abusing’ of officials engaged in overseeing the BCD elections.
The suspension had also included a prohibition against Khosla and the others entering the premises of the Delhi High Court, a part of the order that has now been stayed as well. Justice Amit Bansal delivered this directive in response to an appeal made by Khosla, Aarti Tyagi, Anju Dixit, and Shaheen Mansoori against the BCD’s order dated April 26.
The case traces back to an incident that occurred on April 25, within the Delhi High Court’s S-Block. Here, Khosla and his colleagues allegedly engaged in inappropriate conduct towards Justice Talwant Singh and other members of the election committee and counting staff. Reports indicated that the language used by the advocates was unparliamentary, with Justice Singh and other election officials subjected to verbal abuse.
Following this, Justice Singh, along with the election committee—comprising mostly retired Principal District and Sessions Judges—communicated to the BCD their feelings of intimidation and humiliation due to the encounter. They expressed an inability to continue the vote counting process without enhanced security measures.
The BCD, in its order, accused the advocates of compromising the dignity of the High Court’s environment through their ‘unruly, rough, and abusive behavior’.
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In their appeal to the High Court, Khosla and the others argued that the suspension was imposed without granting them a hearing, thus impacting their right to earn a livelihood. They also contended that the suspension was in breach of legal protocols.
The High Court has scheduled further hearings on the matter for October, providing an opportunity for a more thorough examination of the allegations and the BCD’s response.
