The Allahabad High Court Bar Association on Tuesday threatened to boycott the court of Justice Ajay Bhanot, alleging that he humiliated an advocate during court proceedings and also mocked a senior Advocate.

In a letter dated October 27, 2026, addressed to the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court through the Registrar General, the newly elected office-bearers of the Bar Association sought appropriate action over an incident stated to have occurred in Justice Bhanot's Court on the same day.

According to the letter, Justice Bhanot had instituted a practice of keeping a separate chair in the next row for a police officer or another senior official who might attend his courtroom.

The Association alleged that, during the proceedings, a police officer holding the rank of Superintendent of Police was sitting in the row behind the Additional Government Advocate (AGA). It further stated that an advocate had respectfully asked the officer to sit behind, saying, "यह आपकी सीट नहीं है" (This is not your seat).

The letter states that the AGA rebuked the advocate and said that he would be complaining to the judge.

It further alleged that, after Justice Bhanot entered the courtroom, the AGA complained about the advocate, following which the judge pointed a finger at him and, in "harsh words", ordered that he be sent to jail.

According to the Association, when the advocate sought forgiveness, the judge directed and compelled him to apologize to the police officer.

The Association also alleged that Justice Bhanot also mocked senior advocate VP Srivastava, who was present in the courtroom, and said the incident had seriously affected the dignity of advocates.

Describing the alleged conduct as 'contemptuous', the Association urged the Chief Justice to take serious note of the matter and initiate appropriate action.

The letter warned that, if appropriate action was not taken, the Allahabad High Court Bar Association would boycott Justice Bhanot's court.

The association has also objected to this new 'practice' pertaining to preferential seating in the Courtroom.

"…if the court is free to insult a lawyer, then the lawyer will also not hesitate to insult the court", the letter adds.

The letter was signed by the Association's newly elected president, Senior Advocate Dr CP Upadhyay and general secretary, Advocate Santosh Kumar Mishra.