New Delhi: Dramatic scenes unfolded in the Supreme Court on Friday (July 10) as a litigant had to be forcibly removed from the premises after he hurled abuses in court and flung documents during the hearing of his petition challenging a decision of the Allahabad high court.

The hearing was before a bench of Justice K.V. Viswanathan and Justice Alok Aradhe.

The petitioner, Prabal Pratap, who appeared in person, displayed a strange and aggressive stance in his submissions seeking an FIR against the assistant commission of police of Lucknow, Bar and Bench reported.

"Mr judicial servant, I order you to order the registration of an FIR against the Assistant Commissioner of Police of Lucknow," Pratap told the bench.

Taken aback, Justice Viswanathan asked twice: "You are ordering me? You are ordering us?"

In response, Pratap said, "That is all from my side. Everything is on record," and threw the case files in the air, hurling verbal abuses in open court.

Security staff immediately came in to remove the petitioner from the courtroom.

The bench then passed the order, which was later published on the top court's website, summing up the events.

Court doesn't take strong action

Despite the breach of protocol, the bench decided to take a lenient approach in its punitive action.

Here’s what the order read:

"When this matter was taken up, Mr. Prabal Pratap, who appeared as petitioner-in-person on behalf of both the petitioners in this matter, instead of presenting the case, made incoherent and unparliamentary utterances.

We have, however, considering the condition of the petitioner above named, do not propose to take any action against him. As far as the merit of this case is concerned, we have perused the records, we find no good ground to interfere with the impugned judgment/order(s). The Special Leave Petition is, accordingly, dismissed.

All pending applications including applications for permission to appear and argue in person and permission to file petition(s) shall also stand disposed of.”

The appeal was dismissed.

SC lawyers' body seek strict action

With clips of the court recording from the hearing circulating on social media platforms, the Supreme Court Arguing Counsel Association wrote to the Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant, seeking "strong and strict action" against persons allegedly involved, directly or indirectly, in the incident.

"Such acts strike at the very foundation of the dignity, decorum, and majesty of this Hon'ble Court and cannot be countenanced under any circumstances. We respectfully pray that strict and appropriate action be initiated against all persons found to be involved in the incident, in accordance with law," the association stated.

Reminding the court of a similar incident in the past where the persons concerned were pardoned with utmost magnanimity, the association said that "the subsequent glorification of such conduct by certain anti-social and anti-institutional elements emboldened others to repeat similar acts".

"The recurrence of such incidents is deeply disturbing and poses a serious threat to the dignity and authority of the judiciary," they said.

The association also alleged that selective circulation of courtroom clips by certain YouTube channels, social media handles and "self-styled journalists" was eroding public confidence in the judiciary, adding that it calls for "immediate and firm institutional intervention".

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