Judges Must Show Patience & Encouragement Towards Young Advocates : Supreme Court Says After AP HC Judge-Lawyer Exchange

The Supreme Court today observed that no direction was necessary from its end in relation to the incident in the Andhra Pradesh High Court - where a Judge was seen in a viral video clip threatening a young lawyer with police custody - as the issue was amicably settled at the High Court level with the involvement of the Chief Justice and the Bar Association.

The Court noted that the Judge's oral remarks did not translate into an executable order, and that the Judge made the comments due to an impression that the young lawyer had struck the files on the podium in anger, though it was the lawyer's claim that the files had accidentally slipped from his hands.

Noting that the issue has been resolved and the advocate also has no complaint, the Supreme Court chose not to precipitate it further. At the same time, the Court made certain pertinent observations on the need for the Judges to exercise patience and to be encouraging towards young lawyers.

"Members of the judiciary at all levels must exhibit patience, compassion and spirit of encouragement towards all. especially young members of the bar. While it is certainly a solemn duty of senior members of the bar to inculcate discipline, professional ethics and continuous learning, the responsibility does not lie with the bar alone, but with the bench as well, to nurture a sense of duty, integrity, so that every lawyer sees themselves as an officer of the court first," the Court observed.

The Court also advised the media to exercise caution in circulating truncated video clips from hearings without context.

"We make an unequivocal observation that media has a vital role in this regard. Dissemination of decontextualised videos can cause unwarranted prejudice. We therefore expect that media will play a proactive role with a heightened sense of responsibility," the Court observed.

A bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi was dealing with two writ petitions registered suo motu over the May 4 episode of an Andhra Pradesh High Court judge threatening a young Advocate with police custody. The cases were registered upon representation/resolution of the Bar Council of India and the Supreme Court Bar Association.

Senior Advocate Vikas Singh, the SCBA President, submitted that there should be an internal mechanism to ensure such incidents do not recur. He also stressed on the need to have a mechanism to encourage young lawyers.

"We are also sensitizing judiciary at every level how to encourage younger members," CJI Surya Kant said.

HCs asked to constitute Grievance Redressal Committees.

In the order, the bench lauded the SCBA for taking steps to encourage and integrate younger members, and urged that the Bar Council of India and the State Bar Councils should emulate it.

The Court also observed that it would be appropriate for High Courts to constitute Grievance Redressal Committees (GRCs) involving members of Bar Councils and Bar Associations to address issues arising between the Bar and the judiciary.

“ We deem it apt to impress upon High Courts to constitute GRC which must associate members of Bar Councils/Associations. Such committees to be constituted at the district/taluka level also,” the Court observed.

The Bench said the mechanism would help ensure that issues arising between members of the Bar and the judiciary are resolved “amicably and effectively” in a timely manner.

Background

In a viral video on social media, the High Court judge, Justice T Rajsekhar Rao, was seen "calling the Police" to take custody of the Advocate as he behaved "indolently". While the counsel was seen "begging for grace" with folded hands, the judge orally rebuked him stating, "Have I dismisses your writ petition? Only I've requested you to bring the order copy...Are you thinking [you] are a great Senior Advocate? Call the police...Not having at least 10 years standing and you will throw the bundle?" Reportedly, the order was later recalled by the judge following intervention by members of the Bar.

The SCBA Executive Committee's resolution expressed “deep concern and shock” over the incident. It stated that the incident had caused “serious concern” among members of the Bar across the country and had “deeply disappointed young members of the legal profession”. While emphasizing that authority and majesty of courts must always be respected, the Association underlined that exercise of judicial power must also reflect restraint, proportionality, fairness and compassion.

The BCI, in similar spirit, called the incident "deeply disturbing" and called for administrative measures pending review of the incident, such as - withdrawal of judicial work from the High Court judge, his immediate transfer to some far-off High Court, and his nomination for appropriate judicial training.

Case Title: BAR COUNCIL OF INDIA Versus HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH, W.P.(C) No. 602/2026 (and connected case)