Bar Council of Punjab & Haryana.
Punjab & Haryana Bar Council to Probe Bench Hunting Allegations at High Court: Chandigarh – The Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana has initiated a formal probe into serious allegations of “bench hunting” at the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The decision comes after a controversy surrounding a bribery case involving a judicial officer, where Chief Justice Sheel Nagu hinted at such practices.
Rakesh Gupta, Chairman of the Bar Council, has instructed the statutory body’s privilege committee to immediately investigate the matter. The committee has been authorized to conduct a thorough inquiry, including issuing notices, recording statements, and summoning records from various sources, including the High Court and the press.
In a press release, Gupta said the allegations were brought to the attention of some Bar Council members, who reported that “some advocates of Punjab & Haryana High Court in order to get favourable orders from a particular bench or avoiding to appear before that Bench are doing Bench-hunting.”
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Gupta described this as a “serious misuse of the privileges granted to advocates” and emphasized the Bar Council’s responsibility to uphold the “dignity, status and reputation of the legal profession.” He warned that a failure to address these allegations would “further deteriorate the judicial system and the reputation of the legal profession.”
While the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana‘s press release did not name a specific case, the move follows a recent, highly controversial bribery case involving a judicial officer. The case, which was filed by a businessman and co-accused, has seen a series of recusals by judges, including the Chief Justice himself.
In May, after receiving certain complaints, Chief Justice Nagu de-listed the case from a single-judge bench, Justice Mahabir Singh Sindhu, who had heard the matter extensively and reserved it for judgment. Chief Justice Nagu then began hearing the case himself but later recused, citing his prior involvement on the administrative side. Justice Jasjit Singh Bedi is the most recent judge to recuse from the matter.
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During a hearing in May, Chief Justice Nagu had pointedly hinted at bench hunting, suggesting that a specific lawyer was brought on board as filing counsel “only to get the case de-listed from a particular judge.” Since 2023, a number of senior lawyers have appeared in the case.
The Bar Council’s swift action underscores the gravity of the allegations and its commitment to addressing practices that undermine the integrity of the judicial system. The privilege committee has been tasked with submitting a report and recommendations as soon as possible, following day-to-day proceedings. The outcome of the probe could have significant implications for legal practice and judicial ethics in the region.
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